§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an index for the cost of living for consumers based on the retail prices index but excluding indirect taxes for each of the last 10 years. [26251]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 15 January 2002:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking if he will give an index for the cost of living for consumers based on the Retail Prices Index but excluding indirect taxes for each of the last ten years. I am replying in his absence. (26251)I am unable to provide an index exactly answering these requirements due to the disproportionate cost involved. However, the ONS does publish a version of the Retail Prices Index, namely RPIY, that excludes both mortgage interest payments and indirect taxes. The annual average of RPIY for the years 1990 to 2000 is presented below together with the annual average of the 12-month percentage change. The annual average figure for 2001 will be available on Tuesday 15 January 2002 when the Retail Prices Index for December is published.
RPIY (all items RPI excluding mortgage interest payments and indirect taxes)1: Annual averages 1999–2000 Calendar year Index January 1987 = 100 Change over 12 months (percentage) 1990 121.4 7.3 1991 129.5 6.7 1992 135.1 4.3 1993 139.0 2.9 1994 141.3 1.7 1995 144.5 2.3 1996 148.2 2.6 1997 151.5 2.2 1998 154.5 2.0 1999 157.1 1.7 2000 159.9 1.8 1 The taxes excluded are council tax, VAT, duties, vehicle excise duty, insurance tax and airport tax. Source:
Office for National Statistics
These data, together with the indices for each individual month, are available on the ONS website www.statistics.gov.uk/rpi.