§ Mr. Edgeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Numismatic Bureau of the Royal Mint opened account number 414 2225 with the National Giro; in how many advertisements by the Numismatic Bureau this account number has appeared; and what other steps have been taken by the Numismatic Bureau to tell customers that payments to the bureau may be made into that account.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesI shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Edgeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the Royal Mint of handling an order received by its Numismatic Bureau by each of the following methods (a) an 352W order written on the reverse of a cash in-payment or transfer form credited direct to the Royal Mint's account with the National Giro, (b) an order form incorporating an authority from the customer to charge the purchase to his Access or Barclaycard account, (c) an order form accompanied by a crossed cheque or postal order, after taking into account staff costs, bank charges, credit card company charges and any benefit gained from the differing periods of time which elapse before a cleared balance is obtained.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesI shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.