asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the interests of economy and convenience, he will consider the desirability of reducing the size of British coins so that the halfpenny should be of the same size as the United States of America cent, or, alternatively, of introducing nickel coins as in several Colonies and foreign countries, such as India, Ceylon, France, Belgium and the United States of America?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is not aware of any demand for a reduction in the size of British bronze coinage or a change in the alloy used. The resulting economy, if any, would be negligible.