§ Mr. WallerTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the percentage increase for United Kingdom industrial fuel prices, coal, heavy fuel oil, gas and electricity, from 1970 to the latest available date, compared with the percentage increase in the producer price index of materials for the same period.
§ Mr. ParkinsonThe information requested is given in the table.
Percentage increase in average United Kingdom industrial fuel prices, 1970–19861 Per cent. Coal 640 Heavy fuel oil 696 Gas 392 Electricity 452 Producer price index of materials2 371 1 1986 is the latest full year for which data are available. 2 The producer price index of materials is not available for years before 1974. The percentage given has therefore been based on the value of the former wholesale price index (excluding crude oil and carbonising coal) in 1970. Source: Energy Trends.
§ Mr. WallerTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what were the latest available comparative domestic energy prices for(a) electricity, (b) gas, (c) heating oils, (d) coke and (e) petrol for the United Kingdom on a single unit basis, such as pence per therm; and what equivalent information he has for the United States of America, France, Germany and Japan;
(2) if he will provide comparable information relating to current United Kingdom domestic fuel prices, fuel by fuel, on a single unit basis such as pence per therm.
§ Mr. ParkinsonThe latest available comparisons of energy prices, for the countries and fuels specified except coke, relate to the second quarter of 1987 and are as shown in the table. Figures for household coke are not available on a comparable basis. The latest comparable information relating to the United Kingdom is given in footnote1 to the table.
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2 Quarterly data are not available. The figure show is the average for 1986, the latest period for which comparable data are available. 3 Provisional. (Although there was no change in tariffs in 1987, this is higher than the figure for the second quarter shown in the above table because of the effect on average revenue of the seasonal pattern of demand.) Notes:
(i) The prices shown above for electricity and gas are based on average revenue per unit consumed. In general these will differ from prices derived for a given level of annual consumption and type of tariff.
(ii) International comparisons of energy prices are difficult to construct because of incompatibilities in the basic data. They require careful interpretation because of movements in exchange rates and variation in the timing of tariff revisions between countries. The above figures are based on exchange rates prevailing in the second quarter of 1987 (1986 for the figures given in parentheses).
Source: "Energy Prices and Taxes", International Energy Agency (OECD).
§ Mr. WallerTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the percentage increase in United Kingdom domestic fuel prices, electricity, gas, heating oils, coke and petrol, from 1970 to the latest available date, compared with the increase in(a) the retail price index and (b) the fuel and light component of that index for the same period.
§ Mr. ParkinsonThe information is given in the table:
Percentage increase in average United Kingdom domestic fuel prices; 1970–19861 percentage Electricity 568 Gas 381 Heating Oils 843 Coal and coke2 620 Petrol and Oil 432 Fuel and light 557 Retail Price Index3 422 Source: Energy Trends. 1 1986 is the latest full year for which data are available. 2 The corresponding figure for coke is 628 per cent. 3 Excluding fuels.