Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what elements of water charges were included in the Rossi index during the period April 1988 to April 1992; and what account these amounts took of variations in the cost of water, sewerage and environmental charges.
§ Mr. BurtWater charges were not included in the Rossi index used to uprate income-related benefits between April 1988 and April 1992. During this period the index was based on the RPI excluding all housing costs.