§ Sir W. Darlingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will cause an inquiry to be made as to the feasibility and desirability of altering the content of one shilling from 12 to 10 pennies.
§ Mr. JayNo. I am satisfied that it would be quite impracticable either to regard the shilling as being worth 10 pennies, or to exchange all existing shillings for coins worth 10 pence.
§ Sir W. Darlingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what economies in the amount of metal coinage required he estimates would result from the introduction of the metric system of 10 pennies to one 249W shilling, and the withdrawal of halfpennies and farthings.
§ Mr. JayI am satisfied that to exchange all existing pennies for coins worth one-tenth of a shilling, or to revalue the penny, would be quite impracticable. Halfpennies and farthings are still required by the public and their abolition would inevitably tend to increase prices. It is impossible, therefore, to make any estimate of the savings which would result from such action.