§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the increase in domestic gas and electricity charges for each of the years since 1970.
§ Mr. Norman LamontBased upon information used in the compilation of the general index of retail prices and published in the digest of United Kingdom energy statistics the percentage increases—in each year over the previous year—in the prices of gas and electricity to the domestic sector are shown in the following table.
ANNUAL PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF THE GAS AND ELECTRICITY COMPONENTS OF THE GENERAL INDEX OF RETAIL PRICES Per cent. Year Gas Electricity 1970–71 9 10 1971–72 6 7 1972–73 1 2 1973–74 5 22 1974–75 16 45 1975–76 22 25 1976–77 17 14 1977–78 3 10 1978–79 4 9