asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many civil servants were employed by the Royal Mint during the last five years in the marketing of proof sets and other numismatic material to collectors and coin dealers, both in the United Kingdom and overseas; and at what annual cost;
(2) what was the profit arising from the sale to collectors and coin dealers of proof sets and other numismatic material during each of the last five years;
(3) what was the annual cost for each of the last five years of expenses incurred by the Royal Mint on publicity, postages and other public relations material in seeking to advertise proof coins and other numismatic material both in the United Kingdom and overseas;
(4) what arrangements exist on the part of the Royal Mint to share the marketing arrangements for proof sets and other numismatic material with established and successful numismatic dealers in the United Kingdom and overseas; and whether any arrangement exists for the Mint to put out to tender marketing arrangements, in whole or in part, for numismatic material;
(5) if it is the policy of the Royal Mint, when striking proof sets of coins or other numismatic material, to have regard to the numbers of such sets issued and the potential resale value by the customer of the Mint on a future occasion; and if he will ensure that the Royal Mint, when engaging in business ventures of this kind, will undertake to buy back at the original issue price, or better, the coin sets or numismatic material made available to the public in the United Kingdom.
I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.