§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give in tabular form the increase in the price of coal, gas and electricity since the National Coal Board took over.
§ Mr. GaitskellI regret that information is not available to provide a simple summary statement of the increases in price of coal, gas and electricity to all consumers since the beginning of 1947. Information collected by the Ministry of Labour for the cost-of-living index shows, however, the following increases in the price of these fuels to domestic consumers between July, 1947, and July, 1948: Coal, 13 per cent.; gas, 8 per cent.; electricity, 5 per cent.