§ LORD STRABOLGIasked Her Majesty's Government:
1096WAWhat they estimate would be the savings in the payment of public service pensions in the year 1980/81 if alcoholic drink and tobacco were removed from the retail price index.
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Lord Soames)In recent years the price of alcoholic drink and tobacco has moved broadly in line with prices generally. It is unlikely, therefore, that removing these items from the index would significantly affect the cost of public service pensions in 1980/81.