HC Deb 20 April 1994 vol 241 c516W
Mr. French

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the design, size and colouring of £10 or £20 notes.

Sir John Cope

The design of Bank of England banknotes is the responsibility of the Bank. I understand that it has no plans to make any further changes to the £10 and £20 notes. New versions with clearer numerals were introduced last year. The size differences have been maintained in order to help the blind and partially-sighted. The colours are predominantly different, especially in the bold coloured symbols and around the portraits on the reverse of the notes.

Mr. French

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration is given when introducing new bank notes to the needs of the blind and the elderly.

Sir John Cope

Design of Bank of England bank notes is the responsibility of the Bank of England. The Bank consults representatives of the blind, the partially sighted and the elderly about the design. In the light of advice from these groups, the Bank has maintained differences in the heights and widths for each denomination in the new series of notes and introduced a different bold coloured symbol on the front of each note to assist the partially sighted.