Written question asked by David Amess (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 July 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 July 2005. It was answered by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Monday, 12 September 2005 on behalf of the Office for National Statistics.

Pound Sterling

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the purchasing power is of the pound sterling, taking its May 1997 value as 100p.

Answer: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Amess, dated 22 July 2005:"As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, concerning what the purchasing power is of the pound sterling, taking its May 1997 value as l00p. (14288)""Based in the Retail Prices Index, the purchasing power of l00p in May 1997 is 82p as at June 2005 (the latest month available). In other words, the purchasing power fell by 18% during this period."

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 436 (Not in daily part);436 c2395W; 14288
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Pound Sterling
Monday, 10 October 2005
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Prices Sterling
Contains statistics: Yes