§ 52. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the purchasing value of the pound in each of the years since 1938 up to the present time.
§ The Minister of State for Economic Affairs (Mr. Gaitskell)As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ Taking the purchasing power of the pound as 100 in 1938, the figures for each of the years since, and at the latest avail? able date, are as follow: 1938, 100; 1939, 97; 1940, 83; 1941, 75 1942, 70; 1943, 68; 1944, 67; 1945, 65; 1946, 63; 1947, 59; 1948, 55; 1949, 54; February, 1950, 52.