§ Mr. Shoreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase or decrease in the value of the £ sterling between mid-December 1972 and 10th December 1973 against the currency of the following ocuntries, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Argentine, Israel, Spain and the countries of the EEC; and what further percentage changes have occurred since 10th December.
§ Mr. NottChanges have been measured on the basis of closing middle market rates on 11th December 1972, 10th December 1973, and 14th January 1974. The following table gives the percentage increase or decrease of sterling 205W in terms of the currencies of the countries indicated:
Percentage change (depreciation —) Country 11th December 1972 to 10th December 1943 10th December 1973 to 14th January 1974 U.S.A −1.1 −3.7 Canada −1.2 −4.5 Australia −20.7 −3.5 New Zealand −17.8 −1.0 South Africa −15.3 −3.0 Argentine −1.0 −3.4 Israel −1.6 −1.7 Spain −11.3 −2.4 France −11.1 +4.0 Belgium −10.0 +1.6 Holland −13.7 — Germany −18.1 +2.3 Italy +3.2 — Denmark −10.1 −2.5