HL Deb 05 April 1978 vol 390 cc169-71

3.1 p.m.

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDE

My 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 Go vernment whether in the near future it could be arranged for the Treasury to issue 50p pieces in gold colour to make it easier to distinguish them from silver 10p pieces and thus avoid mistakes in tendering coins.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk)

My Lords, the appearance of the 50p was the subject of more research and consultation than any other coin in our history. The disadvantages of changing the colour would, in the Government's view, outweigh any benefits.

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDE

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for the unsatisfactory Answer, but will she bear in mind that it is occasionally possible for responsible people to have ideas which it would be a very good thing for the Government to consider?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, I am sorry that the noble Baroness thought my Answer unsatisfactory. I thought that it was totally satisfactory. It is something that wehave considered to a great extent. In fact, over 30 representative bodies, including consumerorganisations, were consulted, research was carried out, and the 50p piece, which has now been in the currency for nearly ten years, was the result. I think that the noble Baroness mighthe interested to know there have been only two letters of complaint to the Mint and the Treasury during that time.

Lord DERWENT

My Lords, if the Government were to make these coins a gold colour would they not be accused of deception?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, without any doubt they would. The coins would also get very dirty, would dirty the hands and would look quite inappropriate for coins of such high value.

The Earl of HALSBURY

My Lords, can the noble Baroness confirm that one reason why the Committee of Inquiry turned down the brass 50p piece was that it weathers to a dull, dirty grey and takes on a most undignified appearance?

Baroness BIRK

Yes, my Lords, that was the feeling of the Decimal Currency Board.

Lord LEATHERLAND

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether she can recall that, when some of us were serving in France in 1915—the noble Baroness is, of course, too young to remember—we were paid in French coinage? Some of the coins of lower denominations had a circular hole stamped in the middle whereas those of higher denominations were leftintact. Would not that be a suitable alternative to employ in this instance?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, I should like to place on record that I have no personal recollection of what the noble Lord said; it is a matter of history to me. No, I do not think that tampering with the coin in this way, which again would involve a great deal of expense, is going to help at all. I think that, after the initial problems, we are all now used to it,and I think it better to leave the 50p piece well alone.

Lord HAILSH AM of SAINT MARYLEBONE

My Lords, does not the noble Baroness recollect that long agotheproblem was solved by making a half sovereign of gold?

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDE

My Lords, will the noble Baroness accept my support for the proposal put by the noble Lord opposite? Does the noble Baroness understand the difficulty that sections of the community have, when going into the coinage in their bags, in try ing to distinguish the difference between one coin and the other? Are we never going to have any alteration, whatever happened in the past?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, we have already had an alteration. That is why we got rid of the ten shilling note and had the 50p coin. I would beg to differ with the noble Baroness.I also fumble in a handbag and I think the feel of the different piece is very much greater than the difference between the old half-crown and the two shilling piece—the florin. There is a great deal of advantage in these heptagonal pieces.

Lord MACKIE of BENSHIE

My Lords, can the noble Baroness say whether it is technically possible to make a small enough coin in real gold to reflect the value of the 50 pence?

Viscount St. DAVIDS

My Lords, will the noble Baroness take great care in this matter in view of the fact that we are now approaching, or in fact past, the time when the £1 note needs to be made into a metallic coin as a result of its much lesser value?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, the noble Viscount is entitled to his own view about this. The question of a coin for the pound—again because the paper notes wear out so quickly—is certainly under review, but no decision is imminent.