Exchange controls were originally enacted at the outbreak of war in 1939, to prevent a run on
sterling, and to prevent any potential panic outflow of capital from the UK. The Defence (Finance) Regulations, issued under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939, provided for restrictions on the convertibility of sterling into foreign currencies, such as US dollars. As long as exchange controls remained in place, the amount of money British citizens could take out of the UK was severely limited. British passports contained a final page titled "
Exchange Control Act 1947” in which foreign currency exchanges had to be listed, the Labour Government of Prime Minister Harold Wilson restricted the amount of currency that British holidaymakers could take out of the country to £50 plus £15 in sterling cash. However, the controls were widely flouted.
Abolition Exchange controls in the UK were abolished by the Conservative Government of Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher in October 1979. Announcing their removal,
Chancellor of the Exchequer Geoffrey Howe said: "They have now outlived their usefulness. The essential condition for maintaining confidence in our currency is a Government determined to maintain the right monetary and fiscal policies. That we shall do. It is right to give an additional degree of freedom to allow the pound to operate in the world unrestricted by restraints of this kind.” Abolition was welcomed by business, and criticised by the opposition Labour Party.
Nicholas Goodison, chairman of the
London Stock Exchange, said that exchange controls had “impeded the development of British commerce throughout the world and so distorted our economy. They have done a lot of harm to London as one of the leading financial centres.” Conversely, the abolition of exchange controls was criticised by Labour's Shadow Chancellor
Denis Healey, who warned of the danger of increased foreign investment at the expense of British industry. ==Exchange controls today==