§ Mr. Gouldasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage the £ sterling has depreciated in value in each month since April 1976 to the latest available date.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonTaking the average value of the pound in April 1976 as 100, the effective depreciation in subsequent months has been as follows:
April* … … … 100 May* … … … 97.9 June* … … … 95.6 July* … … … 97.0 August* … … … 96.3 September* … … … 91.5 13th October … … 86.7 * Mean of daily closing rates.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the purchasing power of the £ sterling in the year before entry to the EEC; and how this compares with the present position.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesTaking the internal purchasing power of the pound in 1972 as 100p, its value in September 1976, the latest date available, was 53½p. The basis for these estimates is given in the leaflet "The Internal Purchasing Power of the Pound", obtainable from the Press and Information Service of the Central Statistical Office.
328W
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of the £ sterling against the US dollar when the £ sterling was first floated in 1971; on what date thereafter it rose to the highest post-flotation value; and what was its value on that date.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage devaluation of the £ sterling against the US dollar at the time of the Stafford Cripps devaluation in the first post-war Labour administration; what was the percentage devaluation of the £ sterling against the US dollar at the time of the Callaghan devaluation in the second post-war period of Labour administration; and what has been the percentage devaluation of the £ sterling against the US dollar since October 1974 to date.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.