§ Mr. Neubertasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of new halfpennies struck since the coin's introduction; and what is his estimate of the number remaining in circulation.
§ Mr. Denzil Davies, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 10th April 1978], gave the following information:
A total of 2,700 million new halfpennies have been struck. The number estimated to be in the hands of the banks and the public is roughly 2,200 million.
§ Mr. Neubertasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of production of a new halfpenny; and how this compares with the cost of the coin when first introduced.
§ Mr. Denzil Davies, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 10th April 1978], gave the following answer:
It would be undesirable for commercial reasons to publish these costs.