asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in view of the fact that the farthing has now no monetary value, he has considered its abolition in commercial transactions and ceasing to mint it.

The farthing has monetary value, and should, therefore, continue to be minted.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether farthings are still being minted, and if so, what happens to them?

They are still being minted at the rate of 13½ million a year. As that is the demand made by the banks on the Mint, we can only assume that they are needed. I would remind the hon. Member that farthings are still needed in the purchase of a number of commodities, such as milk and bread