§ Mr. WardTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to change the method of calculating the retail prices index so that the figure given is more closely in line with those of other members of the EEC.
§ Mr. MoateTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to standardise the method of calculating the retail prices index to conform with other European countries; and if this has been proposed to other member states of the European Economic Community or European Free Trade Association.
§ Mr. Maples[holding answer 26 October 1990]: My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to change the method of calculating the retail prices index in the interest of international comparability.
A variety of methods is used by other European countries in constructing their consumer price indices, and although a recent consultant's report has identified possible scope for harmonisation, each country has kept its own index.