§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing for each year since 1978 the weight of (a) rates and (b) water and sewerage rates in the retail prices index together with the implied domestic rate contribution to local government expenditure.
§ Mr. LilleyThe weights in the retail prices index, to the nearest part per thousand, have been as follows:
Domestic rate Water and sewerage charges 1978 32 2 1979 28 6 1980 26 5 1981 28 8 1982 33 8 1983 35 9 1984 37 9 1985 36 9 1986 33 8 1987 42 7 1988 43 7 1989 42 7 The weights relate only to the households covered by the index and do not provide estimates of aggregate contributions to local government expenditure.