§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the percentage deviation of the £ sterling above and below the central rate of the European monetary system each month since its inauguration.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneThe information is as follows:
Percentage change of sterling against its notional ecu central rate End-month 1979 1980 1981 1982 January — +2.7 +25.4 +7.2 February — +4.6 +19.8 -0.7 March +1.2 +7.9 +0.2 -0.5 April +3.0 +5.2 +1.0 -2.6 May +4.0 +8.0 +2.3 -2.2 June +5.4 +7.0 -0.6 July +8.3 +7.4 -2.4 August +7.8 +10.2 -2.4 September +0.1 +10.8 -8.3 October -1.7 +17.5 +2.7 November -0.1 +15.5 +6.5 December +0.4 +18.6 +6.1 The notional central rate of sterling against the ecu is reset after each realignment to reflect the prevailing market rates and the realignment itself; and was adjusted on 24 September and 30 November 1979, 23 March and 5 October 1981 and 22 February and 12 June 1982.