The Bank of England has made contingency plans for a changeover to plastic bank notes, Sky News has confirmed.
Tender documents for a new contract to print money have included a clause allowing for the polymer-based currency.
A source has told Sky News the printing proviso is to "future proof" the bank's supply of money.
future proof：前瞻性
A number of countries already use plastic money, which can be more durable than traditional cotton-based paper notes.
Australia, Romania, Vietnam, Mexico and Malaysia are among those to have introduced polymer money.
The Australian $5 note lasts an average of 40 months whereas an English £5 note is worn out after an estimated six months.
Between 2003 and 2011 the Bank of England received claims for bank notes destroyed through washing totalling £747,000, and £8.625m for fire or flood damage money.
It also received claims for £946,000 for notes that had been eaten or chewed.
Claims for notes deemed to be "contaminated" topped £232m in the period, with the total figure for all damaged or mutilated money reaching £263m.
In addition to greater durability the plastic money can incorporate holograms and other security devices to thwart counterfeiters.
hologram：全息图像
counterfeiter：货币伪造者
"The Bank of England is not doing its job properly if it does not take account any new security measures it can utilize to protect the currency," the source said.
The new printing contract will run from 2015 to 2025 or 2028.
The bank plans for a consultation period of at least 12 months ahead of any changeover, as cash and vending machines need mechanisms recalibrated.
vending machine：自动售货机
A Bank of England spokesperson told Sky News: "It’s incumbent on the Bank, within our general research and development program to look at the pros and cons of various security features and substrates.
pros and cons：正反两方面
"No decision has been made as yet regarding printing on polymer."
【新闻快讯】英国天空卫视新闻台（Sky News）证实说，英格兰银行计划把纸币更换成塑料钞票。一份有关印刷货币新的竞标合同中包括了印刷塑料货币的条款。在2003到2011年期间期间，因为5英镑纸币在洗衣机中被毁而让英格兰银行已经收到了价值74.7万英镑的更换申请，另外有862.5万英镑的钞票因为在失火中或者洪水中被损。价值94.6万英镑因为纸币被吃掉或咬坏。
那些被“污染”的钞票价值高达2.32亿，而受损或者残缺钞票的价值共计达2.63亿英镑。除了经久耐用的特点之外，塑料钞票还能植入很多防伪装置，以防假币的使用。
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