§ 19. Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the latest index figure for electricity prices on a January 1974 base.
§ Mr. BennElectricity prices which stood at 100 in January 1974 were at 250 on March 14th. This is 30 per cent. higher than the general level of prices over the same period, creating serious problems for consumers. By comparison, in 1977 the cost of oil used by the electricity industry had increased to 4½ times the level it was during 1973.