§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent the proposed increases of 24p a gallon in the price of draught beer, the 3p to 4p a gallon in petrol, the 9 per cent. plus in train fares and the 20 per cent. in certain newspapers will increase the cost of living; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerAn increase of 24p per gallon of draught beer would add about 3/10 of 1 per cent. to the retail prices index. The direct effect of a 3p to 4p increase in the price of petrol would add about 3/20 of 1 per cent. to the retail prices index; there would also be an indirect effect on the prices of other goods and services in the index. The recent increases of 10–20 per cent. in the price of certain national daily and Sunday newspapers and of over 9 per cent. in rail fares added, respectively, 1/50 and 1/20 of 1 per cent. to the retail prices index for January 1979.