Bank may put printing pounds in private hands

UK - Private sector operators may be given the chance to print money under proposals by the Bank of England to jettison its banknote operations.

The Bank said yesterday it was considering the sale of its printing press at Debden, Essex, a move that would put responsibility for producing English pounds into private hands for the first time in the currency's history.

De La Rue, one of only a small number of companies that print notes commercially, said it would "watch developments with interest".