§ 29. Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received from industrial organisations, professional organisations and individual traders about the inconvenience of the new 50p coin; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TaverneWe have received a total of 14 complaints from traders, most of them from retailers and written in the first four or five weeks after the coin was introduced.
No complaints have come to us from professional or industrial organisations.
§ Mr. SmithIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, far from becoming accustomed to the new coin, most people still heartily detest it? Is there not a good case for putting public choice first and at least improving the size of the 246 coin or, better still, reintroducing a paper note?
§ Mr. TaverneEveryone who complained about the coin did so on different grounds. My impression is that the public are growing used to it and that it is much more acceptable than it was at first.