HC Deb 26 June 1979 vol 969 cc168-9W
Mr. Craigen

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the projected and actual impacts of each of his predecessors' Budgets on the retail price index.

Mr. Lawson

It is not possible to give estimates of the actual impact of earlier Budgets: observed movements in the retail price index are the result of a large number of factors and it would be a major exercise, involving many assumptions, to separate them. However, the attached table shows the actual movement of the RPI over the 12 months succeeding each Budget described. The table also shows the forecast direct RPI effects of each of the Budgets of my right hon. and learned Friend's immediate predecessor as Chancellor of the Exchequer, taken from his Budget Statements at the time. The then Chancellor also introduced, of course, a number of economic packages which were not technically Budgets.

It would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources to provide estimates for the Budgets of all my predecessors since the creation of the RPI.

be the estimated cost of zero rating repair and replacement building work.

Mr. Peter Rees

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the zero-rating of repairs and replacement building work in order to maintain the standard of housing stock.

Mr. Peter Rees

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.