§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his written reply dated 19 October concerning the rate of income tax in Germany, why he has converted the deutschmark figures into sterling at purchasing power parities; and if he will list in theOfficial Report the divisions of the United Kingdom retail prices index shown in table 18.2 of the monthly digest in cases where he has evidence that the level of German prices at the current rate of exchange is 30 per cent. higher than the level of United Kingdom prices.
§ Mr. Norman LamontBecause purchasing power parities offer a more reliable guide than exchange rates in international comparisons of this sort. I regret that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the second part of the question.