§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average expenditure per household in 1979 and 1986–87 at(a) current prices, (b) 1979 prices and (c) 1987 prices on (1) electricity, (2) gas, (3) telephone charges, (4) water supply, (5) public transport and (6) prescription charges.
§ Mr. LeeThe information requested is shown for 1979 in the table.
831W
Average weekly household expenditure (£s) United Kingdom: 1979 Current prices June 1987 prices Electricity1 2.51 4.60 Gas1 1.52 2.79 Telephone 1.09 1.99 Water2 0.18 0.33 Public Transport3 1.49 2.73 Prescriptions4 0.03 0.06 Source: Family Expenditure Survey. 1 Includes both account payments and slot meter payments (less rebates). 2 Excludes sewerage charges. 3 Includes both season and non-season ticket expenditure. 4 Includes charges for National Health Service appliances. Full information for 1986 will not be available until after the publication of the report of the 1986 family expenditure survey at the end of the year. I will forward the 1986 data to the hon. Member then.