§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade by how much domestic electricity prices for Northern Electric customers have changed since 1991 in relation to the UK average.
§ Mr. Charles WardleUsing the normal assumption that the average domestic household buys 3,300 kWh of electricity per year, Northern Electric's standard tariff rose by 1.9 per cent. between 1991 and 1994. If allowance478W is made for inflation, as measured by the gross domestic product (market prices) deflator, this represents a fall of 7.4 per cent. in real terms. For customers on Northern Electric's Economy 7 tariff, the price of electricity rose by 2.4 per cent. in current price terms and fell by 7 per cent. in real terms (assuming consumption of 6,600 kWh per year—3,000 day units and 3,600 night units). VAT has been excluded from the above figures. This tax (8 per cent.) was imposed from 1 April 1994, but an unspecified number of consumers paid in advance and will not have paid any VAT during 1994.
For all regional electricity companies in England and Wales, the corresponding average change over this three-year period for standard tariff customers was -0.9 per cent., (9.9 per cent. in real terms), and for Economy 7 tariff customers it was +0.9 per cent., (-8.4 per cent. in real terms).
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect of the takeover of Northern Electric by Trafalgar House on the sale of the National Grid Company.
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is awaiting the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading on the proposed takeover by Trafalgar House of Northern Electric.