Oral Answers to Questions — Ireland. – in the House of Commons am ar 13 Gorffennaf 1922.
Sir Harry Brittain
, Acton
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer (1) what would be the saving per annum if nickel coinage of convenient size, comparable with that used in Belgium and France, was issued in place of the present halfpenny, penny, and threepenny piece;
(2) whether, seeing that, by the reduction of the size of copper coinage by half, he would not only save a sum of roughly £40,000 per annum, but at the same time give the public a form of coinage more convenient to handle, he will reconsider the question?
Mr John Baird
, Rugby
The saving on the introduction of copper coins of smaller size or of nickel coins would depend in the first place on whether the existing coins were withdrawn (which would be expensive), and in the second place on the future demand for new subsidiary coin, of which it is impossible for form a reliable estimate at the present time. For the moment no new pennies or halfpennies are being coined at all. I am not aware of any general demand for a change such as suggested, and there would be considerable Opposition from many quarters where a change would cause serious inconvenience, e.g., owners and users of penny in the slot machines.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
