§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to reform the retail prices index to bring it in line with other countries in the exchange rate mechanism; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LamontI informed the House on 6 February 1992,Official Report, column 256, that I have reconvened the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee to consider the treatment of the council tax in the index and other matters. I have asked the committee in forming its recommendations to take account of the practices in other European Community countries. The Central Statistical Office will also be involved in discussions on harmonising consumer price indices with the Statistical Office of the European Community and statistical offices of other member states.