HC Deb 18 January 1995 vol 252 cc495-6W
Sir Andrew Bowden

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to update the basis upon which the retail prices index is calculated; and what amendments have been made to it since 1990.

Mr. Nelson

The Chancellor announced in answer to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 10 January,Official Report, column 9, his acceptance of the recommendations made by the retail prices index advisory committee in its reports, Cm 2717 and Cm 2716, on owner-occupiers' housing costs and cars respectively. The changes will be implemented in the RPI from February 1995. The recommendations of the advisory committee in its previous reports, Cm 2142 in January 1993 and Cm 2153 in February 1993, on council tax and holidays were implemented in the RPI for 1993 and, for United Kingdom holidays, 1994. Minor changes to the items included in the RPI are made each year to take account of changes in consumer spending patterns. Details of the 1993 and 1994 changes are given in the April 1993 and March 1994 issues of the publication "Retail Prices Index", CSO business monitor MM23. All the above publications are available in the House of Commons Library.