HC Deb 06 April 1989 vol 150 c257W
64. Mr. Eastham

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact of the public sector price rises announced for April on the retail prices index.

119. Mr. Douglas

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact of the public sector price rises announced for April on the retail prices index.

122. Mr. Duffy

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact of the public sector price rises announced for April on the retail prices index.

128. Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact of the public sector price rises announced for April on the retail prices index.

Mr. Lilley

The electricity board and the water authorities have already announced price increases to take effect this month. It is estimated that these changes, once they have fully worked through to consumers' bills, will raise the RPI by less than ¼ per cent.

79. Mr. French

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the average annual increase in the retail prices index for the period 1974 to 1979 and for the most recent five-year period for which figures are available.

Mr. Lilley

The retail price index rose on average 15.5 per cent. a year in the five years to 1979, over three times higher than its average annual growth of 5.1 per cent. over the five years to February 1989.