§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, I beg leave 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 they have any statement to make regarding the decimalisation of the currency.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF DUNDEE)My Lords, the Committee of Inquiry, under the chairmanship of Lord Halsbury, has now finished taking evidence and is preparing its report, which I hope will be available before the Summer Recess.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, was it not hoped that this report would be ready in the New Year of 1963? But how soon after it does appear in the Summer Recess may we expect a decision from Her Majesty's Government? May I also ask whether, having regard to the decision of Australia and New Zealand to decimalise soon, we may not at an early date find ourselves the only major commercial country whose currency is not decimalised? If the change is more or less inevitable, will Her Majesty's Government bear in mind that, the longer it is delayed the more complicated and expensive it will be?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, on the first supplementary, which was a fairly general one, I think my noble friend has raised this Question no fewer than eight times in the last three years, and I sympathise with his impatience. When we do come to a decision, I hope we shall not be accused of acting with precipitate haste. On the second question, it is the case that the longer we delay, 1306 the greater the expense will be. But I understand that the manufacturers of calculating machines think the change will be easier if it comes in Great Britain after it has happened in Australia and New Zealand.