§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the annual rate of price increase of (a) nationalised industries and (b) private sector companies, excluding food, since 1979.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOver the four years from May 1979 to May 1983 the retail prices index for goods and services mainly produced by nationalised industries increased at an average annual rate of 16.7 per cent. Corresponding information relating solely to private sector companies is not available. The comparable annual average rate for the retail prices of all items of goods and services excluding food is 12.5 per cent.