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The Times & The Sunday Times
The Times & The Sunday Times
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Silver sell off

Why not have a competition for new cutlery designs for the House of Commons, sponsored by a British manufacturing company?
The Times
The Times

Sir, You report (Mar 9) a proposal to replace silver-plated cutlery in the House of Commons with stainless steel knives and forks made in the Far East. Has Sheffield disappeared? What happened to buying British?

Lindsay James Keith

Hurstpierpoint, W Sussex

Sir, Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP, is wrong to suggest that selling the plated cutlery is selling off the family silver. Plated wares are not silver. They are not as durable as silver and, as the Commons administration committee rightly suggests, should be sold off and stainless steel sought in its place. Many of our finest silversmiths have produced designs in stainless steel, including Benny, Mellor and Welch. Why not have a competition for new designs, perhaps sponsored by a British cutlery manufacturing company?

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Charles Hall

(Silversmith) Gwinear, Cornwall