asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the anticipated period in use of the £1, £5, £10 and £20 notes, respectively.

The current estimated average life of a £1; note is about 10 months; for a £5 note the period is about 20 months. Comparable estimates are not available either for the £10 note— as the issuing and return patterns have been distorted by the introduction, last year, of a redesigned note—or for the £20 note, which is a relatively new denomination with only a limited circulation.