§ Mr. Freudasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average percentage increase in the retail price of Her Majesty's Stationery Office publications (a) over the last 10 years and (b) over the last five years.
§ Mr. HayhoeHer Majesty's Stationery Office did not begin keeping consistent records of average prices for publications until 1976, so the information is not available in the form requested. The year by year increase since 1976 is as follows:
per cent. 1977 28 1978 Nil 1979 6 1980 *68 1981 15 1982 18 1983 9 1984 5 * See Note 1. Notes
1. The HMSO was reconstituted as a trading fund on 1 April 1980 and the exceptionally high year on year increase shown for 1980 reflects action required by statute to cover costs not previously accounted for, as well as increased production costs.
2. Since becoming a trading fund, the aggregate average increase in the price of parliamentary papers (excluding Hansard) is 73 per cent. There has been no increase since April 1983.