§ Mr. Whiteasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the real value of the pound sterling at the latest date, compared with its value on 1 March 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984, respectively.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe value of sterling on the dates referred to, expressed as an index against the basket of major currencies (£ ERI), was as follows:
£ sterling exchange rate index 1975 = 100* Date 1 March 1975 105.1 1 March 1976 95.4 1 March 1977 80.7 1 March 1978 84.4 1 March 1979 82.9 29 February 1980† 73.2 27 February 1981† 98.9 1 March 1982 91.9 1 March 1983 80.0 1 March 1984 82.9 18 March 1985‡ 72.5 * Unless stated otherwise, all figures are based on closing London market rates. † 1 March fell on a weekend. ‡ Noon index.