§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amounts the exchange rate between the £ sterling and the United States dollar declined in each of the periods up to the present day since 1913, 1929, 1939 and 1947, expressed as an annual movement at compound rates.
§ Mr. NottOn the basis of the official, or parity, rates at the end of each of the four years in question, the annual average downward movement to 18th May 1973, taking (a) the parity rate of £1—$2.89524 and (b) the average middle clos-
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(£ million) 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 NATIONAL COAL BOARD Grants in connection with pit closures 1.3 5.2 10.8 9.2 8.5 9.3 9.1 Payments under Redundant Mineworkers' Payments Scheme — — 3.3 8.6 11.2 8.3 6.6 Payments towards cost of premature pensions for redundant mine workers — — 3.1 1.3 2.3 0.8 1.2 Payments on account of deferment of colliery closures — 1.0 1.4 — — — — ELECTRICITY COUNCIL Compensation for additional coal burn — 3.9 7.9 3.8 — — — Compensation for costs of additional stocking — — — — — — 19.9 SCOTTISH ELECTRICITY BOARDS Compensation for additional coal burn — 0.6 0.8 0.6 — — — GAS COUNCIL AND BOARDS Compensation for additional gasification of coal and production of coke — — 1.2 1.2 0.6 — — BRITISH RAILWAYS BOARD Grants towards costs of unremunerative railway services — — — 71.1 60.5 65.2 66.3 Surplus track grants — — — 15.0 10.0 7.5 8.5 Infrastructure grants — — 0.3 5.7 0.3 1.3 11.1 Grants towards costs of installing automatic level crossings — — — — 0.7 — — ing market rate of £1— $2.5510 on that date, was
- (a) 0.88%, 1.19%, 0.99% and 1.29%
- (b) 1.08%, 1.48%, 1.36% and 1.79%