§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he does not keep records of the total amounts that have been paid out in PAYE refunds.
§ Mr. NottMost PAYE refunds are made by employers and are merged in the total PAYE tax for which they account. However, some information about repayments made by the Revenue will become available next year following transfer of the work of accounting for repayments to a computer.
§ Mrs. Sally Oppenheimasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, the amounts by which, and the occasions when, the
ANNUAL PERCENTAGE INCREASES IN THE PRICES CHARGED BY CERTAIN NATIONALISED INDUSTRIES AND IN THE GENERAL INDEX OF RETAIL PRICES Calendar Years Year beginning January Retail price index Railway passenger fares London Elsewhere Docks Electricity (England and Wales) Electricity (South of Scotland) Electricity (North of Scotland) Coal 1963 … 1.9 3.0 .. 6 — — — 1964 … 4.6 — .. 5 — — — 1965 … 4.4 10.0 4.0 9 6 6 — 1966 … 3.7 5.0 2.0 — — — 11 1967 … 2.6 2.2 2.0 14 6 10 — 1968 … 6.2 7.0–12.0 — 2.0 — — — — 1969 … 5.0 — — 3.5 — — — 12 1970 … 8.5 12.0 17.5 11.5 1 7 7 13 1971 … 8.2 20.0 17.5 11.5 13 11 10 10 1972 … 7.7 12.5 12.5 9.0 5 5 5 7.5
Financial Years Year beginning April Retail price index Postal and remittance services Telecommunications Gas Steel 1963 … 2.0 1.9 2.8 3.8 1964 … 5.6 0.4 -1.2 5.0 1965 … 3.6 17.1 -1.1 1.3 1966 … 3.0 7.1 -0.7 2.7 1967 … 4.4 4.6 -0.6 0.4 — 1968 … 5.5 7.4 6.1 9..9 — 1969 … 5.6 4.5 4.1 1.0 17.0 1970 … 9.4 4.5 9.9 1.3 5.0 1971 … 6.3 37.1 0.9 8.8 7.0 1972 … 9.2 N.A. N.A. 4.2 4.5 N.A. =Not available;—=nil or negligible. Notes:
(a) Because information on some industries is kept on the basis of financial years, the table has been divided into two parts.
(b) The figures for railway passenger fares before the introduction of selective pricing in 1968 relate to the percentage increase in average receipts per passenger mile.
(c) The figures for docks (British Transport Docks Board) are based on the estimated increase in annual revenue resulting from increases in charges.
(d) The figures for electricity—England and Wales—relate to electricity supplied mainly to domestic consumers.
(e) The figures for coal for years after 1969 relate to financial years.
(f) The figures for postal and remittance services, and for telecommunications, are derived from indices published in the Post Office's annual reports and accounts. The accounts are not yet available for 1972–73.
44Wproduct or products of any nationalised industry have risen in price, in any year, by an amount greater than the rise in the general index of retail prices in the same year.
§ Mr. HigginsOwing to the range and number of the products of the nationalised industries I regret that it is not possible to give a list in the form requested by my hon. Friend. The table below, however, gives information on the overall increases in the prices of the products of most nationalised industries and in the general index of retail prices. Similar information for the nationalised part of the road transport industry is not readily available; but some is given in "Passenger Transport in Great Britain 1971", published by the Department of the Environment.