HC Deb 11 September 1931 vol 256 c415W
Mr. MILLS

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the respective values of silver per ounce in 1909, 1914, 1920, 1928, and 1931, respectively; and how many countries operate on a silver currency and approximately the total population of those countries?

Major ELLIOT

The average price per standard ounce of silver in the London market during the years mentioned was as follows:

Average for year. Pence.
1909 23 11/16
1914 25 5/16
1920 61 9/16
1928 26 ¾
1931 (January to August) 13 1/16

The countries on a silver standard at present are China, with a population of approximately 444,000,000 and Abyssinia, Persia and the Colony of Hong Kong with a population of approximately 20,000,000 in all.