§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the increases in gas, electricity and coal prices over the last 10 years.
§ Mr. LawsonThe prices of gas, electricity and coal to the domestic sector increased by 225 per cent., 406 per cent. and 380 per cent. respectively between November 1971 and November 1981. The calculations are based upon movements of the individual fuel components of the general index of retail prices and include an estimate for the fuel price increases announced in October and November 1981 for gas and coal respectively.
Gas, electricity and coal prices to the industrial sector increased by 558 per cent., 320 per cent. and 386 per cent. respectively between the quarters April to June 1971 and 118W April to June 1981. Data for the third quarter 1981 are not yet available. The gas and electricity prices used are based on net selling values to the industrial sector. The coal price used for the second quarter 1971 was derived from a variety of sources and is intended to be a representative price to industry. The coal price for the second quarter 1981 is based on a Department of Energy survey of some 900 large industrial consumers. This survey began in 1974 and thus the two series used to assess the change are not strictly comparable.