§ 26. Mr. Freethasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of persons in 1957–58 drawing under £50, between £50 and £75, and between £75 and £99 of the £100 tourist allowance, respectively; and the number of persons drawing the full £100 tourist allowance.
§ Mr. ErrollI regret that this information is not available.
§ 27. Mr. Freethasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated cost in foreign exchange of increasing the £100 tourist allowance to £125 and to £150, respectively; and the number of persons he estimates would draw such sums fully if permitted.
§ Mr. ErrollNo such estimates are possible.
§ 28. Mr. Freethasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the equivalent foreign tourist allowance which would be needed to have the same purchasing power today as the £75 tourist allowance had in 1946 in the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, and Italy.
§ Mr. ErrollAn exact comparison is not possible. But on the basis of retail price indexes and official exchange rates in the four countries, it needed, in the last quarter of 1958, roughly £125 in the United Kingdom, £125 in France, £130 in Switzerland and £90 in Italy to buy as much as £75 could buy in 1946.