§ 20. Mr. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the latest convenient stated date, what income would be necessary today to ensure the same purchasing value as £750 per annum in 1953, taking account of the depreciation in the value of the £ sterling since 1953.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftOn the basis of the Consumer Price Index and the Index of Retail Prices, £845 in May, 1957, had approximately the same purchasing power as £750 in 1953.
§ Dr. Broughtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the value of the £ sterling on 5th April in each of the years 1946 to 1957, inclusive, taking as the basis its purchasing value having been 20s. in 1946.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftTaking the purchasing power of the £ sterling as 20s. in 1946, the corresponding figures for each of the' years 1947–57 are: 18s. 8d., 17s. 4d., 17s. 3d., 16s. 5d., 15s. 7d., 14s. 4d., 13s. 11d., 13s. 11d., 13s. 6d., 12s. 8d. and 12s. 6d. The figures are based on the Consumer Price Index adjusted by the Index of Retail Prices. They refer to mid-April for the years 1948–50, and to the average for the year in 1946–47, when monthly figures were not available on the same basis.