§ Mr. Channonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he is having in regard to changing the ratings of the retail price index.
§ Mr. BoothThe Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee, on which are represented the CBI, the TUC, producer and consumer organisations and eminent academic economists and statisticians, is currently considering a number of issues, including the treatment of housing costs in the index. In the latter part of last year it recommended the change of the reference base of the index from 16th January 1962=100 to 15th January 1974 = 100.