To ask Her Majesty's Government , further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 12 March (WA 19), what is the estimated value of current forged notes and coins in circulation.

To ask Her Majesty's Government , further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 12 March (WA 19), what is the estimated value of current forged notes and coins in circulation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of counterfeit (a) £5, (b) £10, (c) £20 and (d) £50 bank notes in circulation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of counterfeit (a) £5, (b) £10, (c) £20 and (d) £50 bank notes in circulation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce the number of counterfeit bank notes in circulation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce the number of counterfeit bank notes in circulation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the value of counterfeit bank notes in circulation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the value of counterfeit bank notes in circulation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of counterfeit bank notes seized in each year since 1997.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of counterfeit bank notes seized in each year since 1997.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many counterfeit Bank of England banknotes were removed from circulation in each year since 2005.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many counterfeit Bank of England banknotes were removed from circulation in each year since 2005.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the percentage and value of each denomination of sterling coins and notes in circulation that are forgeries; which Government body is responsible for preventing forgeries; what is the annual cost of replacing forgeries with valid coins and notes; and which...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the percentage and value of each denomination of sterling coins and notes in circulation that are forgeries; which Government body is responsible for preventing forgeries; what is the annual cost of replacing forgeries with valid coins and notes; and which...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many counterfeit banknotes have been seized in the UK in each of the last two years for which figures are available; and how many purported to have been issued by (a) the Bank of England, (b) Scottish banks and (c) banks in...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many counterfeit banknotes have been seized in the UK in each of the last two years for which figures are available; and how many purported to have been issued by (a) the Bank of England, (b) Scottish banks and (c) banks in...

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It appears that the Minister will not accept my intervention so that it will not appear on the record that I was challenging her for talking my Bill out.

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It appears that the Minister will not accept my intervention so that it will not appear on the record that I was challenging her for talking my Bill out.

On the question of Scottish culture and Scotsmen, does my hon. Friend agree that one innovation that might bring people closer to Government and improve the transparency of Government would be to introduce pictures of serving Prime Ministers on to banknotes, so that whether people have a lot of banknotes...

On the question of Scottish culture and Scotsmen, does my hon. Friend agree that one innovation that might bring people closer to Government and improve the transparency of Government would be to introduce pictures of serving Prime Ministers on to banknotes, so that whether people have a lot of banknotes...

I am surprised to hear that, because as I said, the company is not a clearing bank and it has no responsibility in this respect; it is providing a commercial service. It seems to me that it can charge what it likes and if the purchaser does not wish to...

I am surprised to hear that, because as I said, the company is not a clearing bank and it has no responsibility in this respect; it is providing a commercial service. It seems to me that it can charge what it likes and if the purchaser does not wish to...

I note what the Minister says, but I am sure she will accept that the point applies equally to Bank of England notes, which are received in such outlets.

I note what the Minister says, but I am sure she will accept that the point applies equally to Bank of England notes, which are received in such outlets.

My hon. Friend is making a fascinating speech. What is his estimate of the number of Bank of England notes in circulation in Scotland?

My hon. Friend is making a fascinating speech. What is his estimate of the number of Bank of England notes in circulation in Scotland?

I am afraid that I am not in a position to give my hon. Friend that information, although the Minister may have it to hand. Given the entrepreneurial spirit of the Scots, a Bank of England note is never refused unless there is a genuine reason to suspect forgery. We...

I am afraid that I am not in a position to give my hon. Friend that information, although the Minister may have it to hand. Given the entrepreneurial spirit of the Scots, a Bank of England note is never refused unless there is a genuine reason to suspect forgery. We...

Does my hon. Friend agree that that represents a double whammy? Not only is that bad for business in Wales and for McDonald's, but we have the irony that McDonald is a Scottish name.

Does my hon. Friend agree that that represents a double whammy? Not only is that bad for business in Wales and for McDonald's, but we have the irony that McDonald is a Scottish name.

It is indeed a Scottish name, and that may have led the gentleman in question to believe that he would be on home turf. Many reasons could be given for not trying to purchase a Big Mac or a double whammy Whopper, but the refusal of currency should not be...

It is indeed a Scottish name, and that may have led the gentleman in question to believe that he would be on home turf. Many reasons could be given for not trying to purchase a Big Mac or a double whammy Whopper, but the refusal of currency should not be...

I am sorry, I was not trying to intervene—I was just moving.

I am sorry, I was not trying to intervene—I was just moving.

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his physical gesture of support. Hon. Members tell me that they have rarely encountered a problem in central London, but that is because Scots notes are used so widely here and it is therefore only to be expected that retailers tend to be more...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his physical gesture of support. Hon. Members tell me that they have rarely encountered a problem in central London, but that is because Scots notes are used so widely here and it is therefore only to be expected that retailers tend to be more...

My hon. Friend is right that no cause should be given to any tradesmen or business to feel that they cannot accept a Scots note. The Bill will provide the reassurance that there is no reason for not accepting such a note. I give way to the hon. Member for...

My hon. Friend is right that no cause should be given to any tradesmen or business to feel that they cannot accept a Scots note. The Bill will provide the reassurance that there is no reason for not accepting such a note. I give way to the hon. Member for...

Will the hon. Gentleman explain—this seems a reasonable juncture to explore it further—what he means by reasonable suspicion in this case?

Will the hon. Gentleman explain—this seems a reasonable juncture to explore it further—what he means by reasonable suspicion in this case?