§ 27. Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether the rate of inflation in respect of essential food, heating, lighting and rent has been greater in Northern Ireland than in the rest of the United Kingdom over the past five years.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe General Index of Retail Prices does not provide separate information for Northern Ireland, and there are no relevant official figures available for the price changes in the province. In the United Kingdom between May 1972 and May 1977 the prices of ail food, fuel and light and rents, as given by the retail price index, rose on average by 148, 130, and 76 per cent. respectively.