§ Mr. Peter Fraserasked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the trend in real terms in gas prices to the domestic consumer since 1970 as compared with other fuels.
§ 1. Mr. LawsonThe following table shows that the real price of gas to domestic consumers has fallen by about a fifth since 1970. The price of all other domestic fuels has risen considerably in real terms.
Domestic Fuels: Real Price Index Numbers Gas Electricity Heating Oils Coal and Coke 1970 100 100 100 100 1971 99 101 102 102 1972 98 100 98 105 1973 89 93 98 100 1974 82 98 144 96 1975 77 116 132 104 1976 80 124 145 111 1977 81 122 155 111 1978 76 123 144 113 1979 70 118 162 117 1980 70 129 185 128 1981 Qtr 1 75 138 193 142 Qtr 2 77 139 193 131 Qtr 3 81 144 198 132 Notes
SourceEnergy Trends, Department of Energy
2.Real price indices in this context means current price indices deflated by the corresponding General Index of Retail Prices (modified by the exclusion of fuels). 1970=100 for all fuels.