§ Mr. Marlowasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why derv is not included in the retail price index; and whether he assumes that all costs involved in increased derv prices are swallowed by business and that no price rises arise for the consumer.
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§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to the reply, 10 July 1980, c. 219]: I have been asked to reply.
Derv is not included as such in the retail prices index because direct purchases by households are negligible, although increases in the price of derv are reflected in the index to the extent that they are passed on by business to the consumer.