asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the approximate number of shillings in circulation; if he is aware of the increasing difficulty of obtaining shillings for gas and electric meters; and what prospect there is of this being alleviated in the near future.

About 550 million shillings are estimated to be held by the public and the banks; and though local shortages of shillings occur from time to time, no general shortage has been reported. Coins are minted to meet public demand transmitted through the banks, and employers of labour could help materially in this matter, if they would ask the banks for shillings and use them in their pay packets.