Should we get rid of our copper coins?

IF 1p and 2p coins were to be scrapped in the future, any increase in the cost of goods would have to be at a minimum of 5p.

P. Lacy, Nottingham. The Chancellor may have back-pedalled slightly over his suggestion to drop the use of copper coins, but I still feel it is a great idea to join the 21st century by retiring totally unnecessary coinage. Are people who disagree also wanting the return of the threepenny bit and the farthing? If copper coinage disappeared, prices are just as likely to drop by 4p, not increase. For example,

they would become 95p not 99p, as now. Peter WaLLer, Forest Green, Surrey.

2p or not 2p, that is the question.

LaureNce SteveNS, Wilmslow, cheshire. PeRhAPS Mr hammond doesn’t want to be known in perpetuity as the ‘penny-pinching Chancellor’. robiN reyNoLdS, chelmsford, essex.

PETROL stations have for years been charging us xxx.9p per litre and I’ve never seen a 0.9p coin yet!

Jim trickett, Pontefract, West yorks.

We need to retain this coinage otherwise we will see the rounding up of bills. In New Zealand, the coinage starts with a 10 cent piece. In shops, if the bill comes to, say, $2.25 it is rounded up to $2.30. If small change is inconvenient, use a machine found in supermarkets to convert them into larger values. mike cuLLey, tunbridge Wells, kent.

RETAILERS price goods at 99p so that it forces the cashier to open the till in front of the customer, causing the sale to be recorded. Otherwise, whole pounds might not find their way into the till.

david edWardS, Leighton buzzard.