HL Deb 25 April 1967 vol 282 cc452-5

3.42 p.m.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, it may be convenient if, with your Lordships' permission, I now repeat a Statement that has just been made by my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. It is as follows:

"It is twelve years since the rebuilding of the Mint was announced. Since then output has trebled, mainly for export, and capacity for minting the decimal coinage is now also required. The existing site cannot be developed economically for these purposes, and in accordance with the Government's dispersal policy a number of new sites have been examined in the development areas. In the light of this examination the Government have decided that a new Royal Mint should be built at Llantrisant in South Wales. Its first task will be to produce the new decimal coinage and a work force of about 400 to 500 will be recruited, mainly from the surrounding areas. These workers will continue to be needed when the Royal Mint itself moves to Llantrisant, which will be by 1973 at the latest."

That concludes the Statement.

LORD BROOKE OF CUMNOR

My Lords, we are all grateful to the noble Lord for repeating this Statement which has just been made in another place, though I should like to express regret that the Government did not ensure that this news was given first to Parliament, instead of being given to the people of South Wales by the Western Mail this morning. As a former Minister for Welsh Affairs, I am delighted at the fact that the Royal Mint, bringing highly skilled work with it, is coming to Llantrisant. This will certainly do some-think to encourage South Wales and offset the heavy unemployment which has befallen some parts of South Wales in the last year or two. May I ask the noble Lord what arrangements are to be made for the skilled workers at the Royal Mint in London, all of whom may not be able or willing to move their homes to South Wales?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I am very pleased that the noble Lord, with his Welsh connections, has felt able to accept the Statement. I suppose he could hardly return to Wales unless he had done so. I regret the fact that this news first appeared in a newspaper, but, as the noble Lord will appreciate, Governments of all complexions have had some concern about a certain degree of leakage. In this case a large number of organisations were aware that consideration was being given to the matter. We examined some twenty different sites in different parts of the country; and it may well be that the jubilation in South Wales was such that a leakage occurred to the Western Mail.

With regard to the skilled staff who are now in the Royal Mint in London, I may say that there will, of course, be a gradual decline in numbers. In the first instance, we shall be starting up with the new decimal coinage minting, and then we shall see a gradual transfer from London. Those of the skilled staff and other work people in the present Royal Mint who may wish to go down to South Wales will be given every encouragement to do so; but for those who do not wish to go—and there may be various personal reasons why they should not—alternative opportunities will be provided in Government Departments or public authorities. The Government will certainly see that what can be done for these people is done.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether his Statement is an indication of what many of us have suspected: namely that the Welsh are far better at making money than the English?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I thought that was the claim in Scotland; but the noble Lord may have a line, so far as the Welsh are concerned.

LORD MAELOR

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that this Statement will cause great joy and satisfaction to the people of the Principality? The Chancellor of the Exchequer is not a Welshman, but it is obvious that he knows who is to be trusted in making money. Perhaps that is the answer that my noble friend should give to the noble Lord, Lord Byers.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I am glad to know that my noble friend is pleased with this Statement. In fairness to those who now work in the Royal Mint, I think I should say that they are producing some 1,400 million coins a year, of which some 800 million are exported. So although there may be some virtue in the Welsh, London can also share in this.

LORD SILKIN

My Lords, my noble friend is referring to South Wales. Is there any mystery about the exact place in South Wales? The Press have re-ferred to Swansea. Can he confirm that it will be Swansea?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, there is a town in my brief, but I can only give it my English pronunciation of "Llantrisant". If the noble Lord wishes to know, it is spelt as follows: L-l-a-n-t-r-i-s-a-n-t. I believe that it is some nine miles from Cardiff.

LORD MAELOR

That, interpreted, is Llantrisant.

LORD ILFORD

My Lords, is the noble Lord able to say whether all minting operations will eventually cease on the present site, and that the present site will be entirely vacated; or is it intended that some operations of the present Mint should continue?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I understand that by 1973 it is hoped that the whole minting operation will be conducted in the new Mint in South Wales.

LORD REDMAYNE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord what are the plans for the present site? Do they take into account the great planning value of the whole of that area of London, stretching through St. Katharine's Docks?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, as I understand it, no decision has yet been taken as to how this site will be developed, but I am sure it will be a matter of great interest to certain noble Lords in this House.