HC Deb 26 November 2002 vol 395 cc158-9W
Ms Stuart

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will require the Royal Mint to publish financial information separately covering its three distinct business streams of(a) UK circulating coins,(b) overseas coin production and(c) non-coin products. [80652]

Ruth Kelly

The provision of the information requested would place the Royal Mint at a competitive disadvantage. Exemption 7 (Effective management and operations of the public service) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.

Ms Stuart

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Royal Mint informed his Department that it was to end its consortium agreement with the Royal Mint. [80653]

Ruth Kelly

It would be improper at present to comment on this issue, as it relates to the court case brought by the Birmingham Mint against the Treasury. Exemption 4 (Law enforcement and legal proceedings) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.

Ms Stuart

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to meet(a) directors and(b) union representatives from the Birmingham Mint to discuss the policy decision by the Royal Mint to end its consortium with the Birmingham Mint. [80654]

Ruth Kelly

Because of the court case brought against the Treasury by the Birmingham Mint, Ministers should not meet Directors or Union representatives of the Birmingham Mint. Exemption 4 (Law enforcement and legal proceedings) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.

Ms. Stuart:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what reporting procedures his Department puts in place to ensure that the Royal Mint is not using its monopoly position in UK coin production to cross subsidise its other business units. [80657]

Ruth Kelly

The Treasury has shareholder oversight of the Mint's sales and cost base, and sets demanding conditions for the UK coinage contract.

It would be improper at present to comment further on this issue, given that it may have a bearing on the case brought against the Treasury by the Birmingham Mint, which is currently before the courts. Exemption 4 (Law enforcement and legal proceedings) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.

Ms. Stuart

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what return on capital the Royal Mint made in each year since 1990. [80658]

Ruth Kelly

The return on Capital made by the Royal Mint in each year since 1990 is included in the table below.

Return on average capital employed
Actual return (percentage)
1990–91 27.9
1991–92 21
1992–93 23.1
1993–94 32.0
1994–95 28.3
1995–96 18.3
1996–97 14.1
1997–98 22.3
1998–99 9.1
1999–2000 0.5
2000–01 0.7
2001–02 26.4

Ms Stuart

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what return on capital the Treasury expects the Royal Mint to make in each year from 2002 to 2005. [80659]

Ruth Kelly

The Treasury expects the Royal Mint to make a return on capital of 11 per cent, within the period from 2001/2 to 2005/6.