§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the change in retail prices over the period June 1979 to October 1989, or the most recent month for which figures are available, measured against the retail prices index, of gas, electricity, bread, beer, four star/premium (97–99 RON) petrol net of duty and taxes and of four star/premium (97–99 RON) petrol including duty and taxes.
§ Mr. RyderThe following table shows the percentage increase in the retail prices index (RPI) between June 1979 and November 1989, together with the equivalent increases for gas, electricity, bread, beer and petrol and oil (inclusive of duty and taxes).
Percentage increase in the RPI between June 1979 and November 1989 All items 112.9 Gas 144.2 Electricity 122.3 Bread 86.7 Beer 176.7 Petrol and oil 88.8 The RPI does not measure net prices; nor is a comparison for four-star petrol available separately from the RPI. However, using other sources, it is estimated that the price of four-star petrol increased by some 25 per cent. over approximately the same period net of duty and taxes, and by some 95 per cent. including duty and taxes.