§ Mr. Soleyasked the Chancellor of the Exhequer what was the price of (a) one pint of beer, (b) one bottle of whisky and (c) one bottle of wine in 1950; and what would be the current cost of each at 1950 prices.
§ Mr. BiffenThe following table shows the actual prices in 1950 and the prices in March 1980 expressed at 1950 prices by dividing by the general increase in prices—as measured by the retail prices index—over the period.
Prices shown are in New Pence Actual prices in October 1950 Prices in March 1980 (pre-Budget) revalued to October 1950 Beer—1 pint 6 5 Whisky—1 bottle 167 63 Table wine—1 bottle 60 25 Note: The calculations involve a degree of approximation. Moreover no allowances have been made for changes in quality over the period. Interpretation of the data should take these qualifications into account. The beer price relates to one pint of bitter in a public bar.