asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the cost of (a) electricity, (b) gas and (c) coal supplied to private domestic consumers, using index numbers based on 1945=100, at the following dates: July 1945, October 1951, October 1964, June 1970, February 1974, and the latest available date.

The following index number components of the retail price index, produced by the Department of Employment and based upon June 1947=100, give a general indication of movements in fuel prices to domestic consumers over the period concerned. However, because of changes in consumption levels, regional variations and tariff structures, such price comparisons over long periods can be considered as only broadly descriptive.

	Electricity	Gas	Coal
June 1947	100	100	100
October 1951	124	131	129
October 1964	231	237	271
June 1970	287	275	381
February 1974	369	328	535
June 1978	976	566	1,201

Separate figures are not available for these items before June 1947.Based upon June 1947 = 100, the General Index of Retail Prices (all items) would be 681·5 for June 1978. Relative to the movement in the R.P.I. the increase in prices in real terms has been 43 per cent. for electricity, 76 per cent. for coal and gas prices have fallen by 17 per cent.