§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who are the present members of the Royal Mint advisory committee; when this committee last met and what items were under discussion; how often the committee has met in the last five years; what is the attendance record of members; and what is the annual cost of the committee both in the current year, and during the previous five years.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe members of the Royal Mint advisory committee are at present:
- His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh (President)
- Dr. D. Gerhard, Deputy Master and Comptroller (Chairman)
- Sir John Betjeman, CBE, C Litt
- Will Carter Esq.
- Sir Hugh Casson, MR, PRA, RDI, FRIBA, FSIA.
- Miss E. Frink, CBE, RA
- Milner Gray Esq, CBE, RDI, PPSIA, AGI
- Professor J. R. Hale, FBA
- Sir Robin Mackworth-Young, KCVO
- J. Porteous Esq.
- Sir Peter Scott, CBE, DFC
- Dr. C. H. V. Sutherland, CBE, D Litt, MA, FBA
- Sir Anthony R. Wagner, KCB, KCVO, D Litt, MA, FSA
The committee last met on 12 June 1980. Matters under discussion at meetings are considered to be of a confidential nature and it is not appropriate to publish details. The committee has met nine times during the past five years but some work is conducted by post. Members of the committee give their time voluntarily and it is not, therefore, in these circumstances, considered appropriate to reveal details of attendance records. The costs of the committee, both in the current year and in the previous five years, were negligible.
§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a separate Royal Mint report providing the data to coin collectors, dealers and those with an interest in the products of the Royal Mint in the form as last available in 1977.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweNo. That form of annual report was discontinued with the Royal Mint annual report for 187W 1976–77. Subject to considerations of cost and commercial confidentiality, the Royal Mint will be publishing production data in a new format.
§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the Commonwealth countries for which the Royal Mint is striking the £1 coins.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe Royal Mint does not disclose details of orders executed for foreign and Commonwealth Governments without approval from the appropriate issuing authorities. It would, therefore, be inappropriate to publish details of the countries for which £1 coins are being struck at the Royal Mint.