§ Sir I. Fraserasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking the purchasing power of the £ sterling as 20s. on 1st October, 1946, what was its value on 1st October, 1951, and 1st October, 1954.
§ Mr. MaudlingMonthly statistics on a comparable basis are not available for the period before June, 1947. Taking the average purchasing power of the £ sterling for the calendar year 1946 as 20s., the corresponding figure for October, 1951, is estimated to have been 14s. 7d. and for October, 1954, 13s. 7d. This estimate is based on the consumer price index and the Interim Index of Retail Prices.