To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of illegal pound coins in circulation in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002. [122581]

Estimates for each of the years requested are not available. An independent analysis commissioned by the Royal Mint has shown that, of a sample of one pound coins collected in late 2002, just under 1 per cent. were counterfeit. However, there is uncertainty as to the extent to which this sample can be regarded as a reliable indication of all coins in circulation. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the true figure may be lower.