HC Deb 22 January 1992 vol 202 cc218-21W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the changes in exchange rate relative to(a) the deutschmark and (b) the ecu allowed to each member of the exchange rate mechanism subsequent to entry giving the date and in each case the relative appreciation or depreciation.

Mr. Maples

The table gives the central rates of currencies on joining the ERM, against the deutschmark and the ECU. For each realignment it gives the date of realignment, the currencies involved, the percentage changes in the central rates of those currencies relative to other currencies, and the new central rates against the deutschmark and the ECU.

ERM Realignments to the present date
Date and currencies Central rate against DM (1 DM =) ECU parity (1 ECU =)
13 March 1979 (starting date)
Belgian Franc (BFC) 15.716400 39.456200
French Franc (FFC) 2.309500 5.798310
Italian Lire (LIT) 457.314000 1148.150000
Dutch Guilder (DFL) 1.083700 2.720770
Deutschemark (DM) 2.510640
Danish Kroner (DKR) 2.822370 70.85920
Irish Punt (IPT) 0.263932 0.662638
24 September 1979: DM +2 per cent.; DKR—2–9 per cent.
DM 2.485570
DKR 2.963480 7.365930
3 December 1979: DKR—4–76 per cent. DKR 3.111650 7.723360
23 March 1981: LIT—6 per cent. LIT 496.232000 1262.920000
5 October 1981: DM, DFL +5.5 per cent.; FFC, LIT —3 percent.
DM 2.049890
DFL 1.105370 2.663820
FFC 2.562120 6.174430
LIT 539.722000 1300.670000
22 February 1982: BFC—8.5 per rent.; DKR—3 per cent.
BFC 18.48370 44.696300
DKR 3.384330 8.183820
14 June 1982: DM, DFL +4-25 per cent.; LIT, FFC—2.75 per cent.
DM 2.333790
DFL 1.105370 2.579710
LIT 578.57400 1350.270000
FFC 2.833960 6.613870
22 March 1983: DM +5.5 per cent.; DFL +3.5 per cent.; DKR +2.5 per cent.; BFC +1.5 per cent.; FFC, LIT—2.5 per cent.; IPT—3.5 percent.
DM 2.215150
DFL 1.126730 2.495870
DKR 3.631410 8.044120
BFC 20.028500 44.366200
FFC 3.066480 6.792710
LIT 626.043000 1386.780000
IPT 0.323703 0.717050
22 July 1985: DM, DFL, DKR, BFC, IPT, FFC +2 per cent.; LIT—6 per cent.
BFC 20.0285 44.832000
DKR 3.631410 8.128570
DM 2.238400
FFC 3.066480 6.864020
IPT 0.323703 0.724578
DFL 1.126730 2.522080
LIT 679.325000 1520.600000
7 April 1986: DM, DFL +3 per cent.; BFC, DKR +1 per cent.; FFC—3 per cent.
DM 2.138340
DFL 1.126730 2.409350
BFC 20.425200 43.676100
DKR 3.703320 7.918900
FFC 3.256170 6.962800
4 August 1986: IPT—8 percent. IPT 0.362405 0.764976
12 January 1987: DM, DFL +3 per cent.; BFC +2 percent.
DM 2.058530
DFL 1.126730 2.319430
BFC 20.625500 42.458200
10 June 1989: Entry of Spanish Peseta PTA 65.000000 133.804000

Date and currencies Central rate against DM (1 DM =) ECU parity (1 ECU =)
8 January 1990: LIT adoption of narrow band and -3-7 per cent. LIT
LIT 748.217000 1529.700000
8 October 1990: Entry of pound sterling GBP 0.338984 0.696904

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the valuation in real terms of each currency in the exchange rate mechanism against the deutschmark at the present date compared to the last quarter of 1986.

Mr. Maples

The table gives the estimated real exchange rate at the close of trading on 14 January 1992, for each currency in the ERM, expressed as a percentage of the rate for the last quarter of 1986. The rates have been calculated by comparing movements in the GDP deflator for Germany with those for other ERM members over the period specified in the question, and the movement in exchange rates between the deutschmark and the other currencies.

It should be noted that the results produced by comparisons of this kind depend crucially on the choice of base period, in this case the last quarter of 1986 at which time the sterling exchange rate index was at its lowest since 1975.

Country Real exchange rate against deutschmark at 1986 Q4=100
United Kingdom £ 122.5
France Franc 98.5
Italy Lira 110.6
Belgium/Luxembourg Franc 105.2
Netherlands Guilder 97.5
Denmark Kroner 104.6
Spain Peseta 127.6
Irish £ 102.2

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