§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Northampton. North, Official Report, 22 July, if derv increases in price by 10 per cent. now this affects industrial costs; and to what extent this is passed on to the consumer and hence to the retail price index.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 6 August 1980, c. 126]: The extent to which an increase in the price of derv affects industrial costs will vary from industry to industry. Moreover whether a rise in derv prices and hence industrial costs will be passed on to consumers will also depend on other economic factors including the level of demand and competitiveness. It is therefore not possible to determine any mechanical link between an increase in derv prices, industrial costs and movements in the retail prices index.