Distribution of the high-tech 5 has been suspended while a team from the Banks Debden plant investigates why some serial numbers had rubbed off (PrintWeek, 31 May). The average lifespan of a 5 note is nine months and it is estimated that there are 20m fewer 5 notes in circulation, 8% less than usual.
A spokeswoman for the Bank of England said: We stopped issuing the 5 note after the problems were discovered. Were trying to solve it as soon as we can.
The Bank of Englands review into its Debden plant (PrintWeek, 15 February), which could see it taken over by a private company, is also still on-going.
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