§ Mr. Whitlockasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has given consideration to the possible difficulties for blind persons of identification of the proposed new £1 and 10s. bank notes; and if he will recommend that they should be treated in such a way that blind people can distinguish them.
§ Mr. Matthewsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will recommend to the Bank of England that the new £1 and 10s. notes be printed in different sizes or in such a way that blind persons can tell the difference, and so be independent in making their own payments.
§ Sir E. Erringtonasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will press for reconsideration of the decision to issue new 10s. and £1 notes of differing sizes, rather than of identical sizes, so as to prevent confusion by those with defective eyesight.
§ Mr. BarberThe Bank of England has assured my right hon. Friend that it is114W fully alive to this problem. I understand that it has arranged to discuss it with representatives of St. Dunstan's and the Royal National Institution for the Blind later this week. If it is found practicable to incorporate some feature which will help the blind to distinguish between notes of the same size but of different denominations, this will be done.