§ Mr. Marlowasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the likely once and for all effect on the retail price index of the increased charges which nationalised industries will be required to raise to meet with the prediction set out in his public expenditure White Paper.
§ Sir Geoffrey Howe[pursuant to his reply, 17 April 1980, c. 717]: It is not possible to predict the exact effect on the retail price index of the measures which will contribute to the change in the nationalised industry financing requirements shown in the public expenditure White Paper. Apart from the elimination of under-pricing by gas and electricity, which accounts for about a quarter of the turnround, this will depend upon the individual industries' success in reducing or containing unit costs and upon the ways in which the industries respond to changing market conditions.