asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list the percentage increases in average retail forecourt petrol prices in 1974, 1975 and to the latest available date in 1976.

The approximate increases were 75 per cent. in 1974, 5 per cent. in 1975 and 2 per cent. in the first nine months of 1976.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the average trend will be £1 per gallon in a year's time? What will the Government do to prevent that or to delay it?

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman. The increase in the price of petrol has been substantially below that of inflation generally.