asked the Minister of Labour what allowance is made in compiling the retail price index for the fact that Londoners have to spend a greater amount of their weekly budget on travel to and from their work than those working in the provinces.

In calculating the effect on the retail prices index of changes in fares, the "weight" or relative importance allotted to travel is based on the aggregate expenditure on travel in the United Kingdom as a whole, compared with the aggregate expenditure on other items. I am afraid that it would not be practicable to record variations on a regional basis.