§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether purchases of derv and petrol by business men will eventually have the same effect on the cost of living as purchases by private consumers.
§ Mr. Jim LesterChanges in prices of petrol and derv affect the retail prices index both directly, through purchases by private consumers and indirectly through purchase by business men. The size of the latter effect will depend on the extent to which changes in business costs are passed on to consumers.