PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE SUB-COMMITTEE
RELATING TO THE REPORT
Main Committee
THURSDAY 22 MARCH 2001
Members present:
Mr Giles Radice, in the Chair
| Mr Nigel Beard | Mr James Plaskitt
|
| Mr Jim Cousins | Sir Michael Spicer
|
The Committee deliberated.
Draft Report from the Sub-committee (Royal Mint)
brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft
Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 30 read and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report
be the Eighth Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman
do make the Report to the House.
Several papers were ordered to be appended to the
Minutes of Evidence.
Ordered, That the Appendices
to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Sub-committee be reported
to the House.—(The Chairman.)
* * * * *
[Adjourned
till Tuesday 27 March at half-past Ten o'clock.
Sub-committee
WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH 2001
Members present:
Sir Michael Spicer, in the Chair
| Mr Jim Cousins | Mr David Ruffley
|
| Judy Mallaber |
|
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Draft Report (Royal Mint) proposed by the Chairman,
brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft
Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraph 1 to 28 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 29 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraph 30 read, as follows:
Although selling off the Mint as a whole is one option
to be studied in the 2003-04 review, others merit consideration.
The Mint's functions—including manufacturing, marketing
and sales—could be divided up to assess which are best done
by a state-owned enterprise and which could be sold or contracted
out to the private sector. The Mint's businesses—including
collector coins, UK circulating coins and overseas circulating
coins—could be similarly divided. There is no question
that the State should retain control over the design and specification
of its coinage and other issues of this sort, but we see no reason
in principle why the Royal Mint's manufacturing and marketing
capabilities, and its overseas work, should not be private sector
concerns. Decisions about the ownership of these various businesses
should be made on the basis of which arrangements maximise value
to the UK economy. We do not believe that the Royal Mint should
be immune from fundamental change, especially given its recent
poor financial performance.
Amendment proposed, in line 7, to leave out from
the word "sort" to the end of the paragraph and add
the words "Decisions about the status of the Royal Mint's
manufacturing and marketing capabilities, and its overseas work,
should be made on the basis of which arrangements maximise value
to the UK economy. We do not believe that the Royal Mint should
be immune from fundamental innovation, especially given its recent
poor financial performance".—(Mr Jim Cousins.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Sub-committee divided.
| Ayes, 2 | Noes, 1
|
| Mr Jim Cousins | Mr David Ruffley
|
| Judy Mallaber |
|
Question put, That the paragraph, as amended, stand
part of the Report.
The Sub-committee divided.
| Ayes, 2 | Noes, 1
|
| Mr Jim Cousins | Mr David Ruffley
|
| Judy Mallaber |
|
Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations amended
and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report,
as amended, be the Fifth Report of the Sub-committee to the Committee.
Ordered, That the Chairman
do make the Report to the Committee.
Several Papers were ordered to be appended to the
Minutes of Evidence.
Ordered, That the Appendices
to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Sub-committee be reported
to the Committee.—(The Chairman.)
[Adjourned
to a day and time to be fixed by the Chairman.
| 
