§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his reply of 9 February, Official Report, columns 31–32, concerning the rate of exchange between sterling and the European currency unit, he will update the appropriation figures in table C and convert European currency units to sterling for the years 1984–86 at the average rates for sterling against the European currency unit in the European monetary system and for 1987 at the average for this year to date.
§ Mr. BrookeIt is not possible to update the appropriation figures in table C because the relevant figures for 1986 will not become available until the European Court of Auditors report for 1986 is published towards the end of this year. Average exchange rates between sterling and the European currency unit have been used up to 1985 in table C. The average exchange rate for 1986 was £1 = 1.489 ecu. The average exchange rate for 1987 until the end of February was £1 = 1.353 ecu.