§ Mr. Neubertasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is ready to announce the specifications arid issue dates for the proposed £1 and 20p coins.
§ Mr. LawsonThe 20p coin will be issued for general circulation in June 1982. It will be a seven-sided cupronickel coin with a constant rolling diameter of 21.4 millimetres, 1.75 millimetres thick, and weighing 5 grammes. The design for the coin will be announced shortly.
The £1 coin will be issued for general circulation in April 1983 and will circulate with the £1 note so long as this is considered desirable. It will be a circular coin made of a pale yellow alloy. Its diameter will be 22.5 millimetres, thickness 3.1 millimetres and weight 9.5 grammes. The reverse design of the initial issue will 691W feature the Royal arms and the edge will be milled with incuse lettering. The Royal Mint has been asked to prepare English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish variants of the reverse design for issue in subsequent years.
In accordance with the Coinage Act 1971, a Royal Proclamation will announce the legal tender status of the coins, the designs' precise specifications and the remedy to be allowed in making the £1 and 20p coins.