§ 26. Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report a list showing how prices compare, in actual costs and as a percentage, between industrial and domestic users of each type of fuel used for heating, and for road transport, both freight and passenger, in each member nation of the European Economic Community, respectively.
§ Mr. Norman LamontIt is not appropriate to compare directly domestic fuel prices with those in the industrial sector for a variety of reasons amongst which are different consumption patterns, differ-580W ent types of fuel in the cases of oil and solid fuel and differing commercial practices. I cannot therefore show meaningful percentage comparisons between market sectors.
In regard to the comparison between member countries, it must be borne in mind that such comparisons are difficult to make in times of rising prices. Further difficulties can arise when exchange rates fluctuate and national currencies are sometimes regarded as over or under valued. There can, however, be wide ranges of prices within countries.