§ Mr. George Gardinerasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the cost of (a) electricity, (b) gas and (c) coal supplied to private domestic consumers, using index numbers based on 1945=100, at the following dates: July 1945, October 1951, October 1964, June 1970, February 1974, and the latest available date.
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§ Dr. John CunninghamThe following index number components of the retail price index, produced by the Department of Employment and based upon June 1947=100, give a general indication of movements in fuel prices to domestic consumers over the period concerned. However, because of changes in consumption levels, regional variations and tariff structures, such price comparisons over long periods can be considered as only broadly descriptive.
Electricity Gas Coal June 1947 100 100 100 October 1951 124 131 129 October 1964 231 237 271 June 1970 287 275 381 February 1974 369 328 535 June 1978 976 566 1,201 Separate figures are not available for these items before June 1947.
Based upon June 1947 = 100, the General Index of Retail Prices (all items) would be 681.5 for June 1978. Relative to the movement in the R.P.I. the increase in prices in real terms has been 43 per cent. for electricity, 76 per cent. for coal and gas prices have fallen by 17 per cent.