HL Deb 18 November 1958 vol 212 cc558-9
LORD MILNER OF LEEDS

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, for the greater convenience of the public, they will now consider the issue of banknotes of a higher denomination than £5.]

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, the issue of banknotes of denominations higher than £5 was discontinued in 1943. This made it possible to simplify the production and handling of the note issue and there has been no indication that the change caused any appreciable inconvenience to the public. If real evidence of a public need for notes of denominations other than those now in use can be produced, I am sure the Bank of England will take account of it.

LORD MILNER OF LEEDS

My Lords, I am obliged to the noble Earl for that Answer, but is it not a fact that in Scotland notes of a higher denomination are issued, to the great convenience of the public? Why should there be this discrimination between Scotland and England?

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, that is perfectly true, and, in fact, until the noble Lord put his Question on the Paper I was unaware that the Bank of England had ceased printing notes of a higher denomination than £5. Since the Scottish banks issue notes of £10, £20, £50 and £100, it seems that the English do not like handling such large sums of money as the Scots.

LORD TEVIOT

My Lords, now we are on the subject of notes, I should like to ask two supplementary questions. No doubt your Lordships have found that the £1 notes stick together most inconveniently. I hope the noble Earl will try to rectify this inconvenient habit of these notes. The second question is whether notes of different denominations can distinctly have a different colour.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords in reply to the first question, I think my noble friend with a little dexterity can avoid paying too much. With regard to the second question, if he is referring to the Bank of England notes, I think the £5 notes are white—

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS

No.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, I am out of date.