asked the Minister for Finance the statistical basis for his recent statement that the rate of inflation has been successfully contained by the Government.

The Minister stated in a recent radio interview that the Government by deliberate action had succeeded in cooling the rate of inflation.

Last February the consumer price index was rising at a rate which was equivalent to an annual rise of 18 per cent. By mid-August that rise rate had been reduced by almost half to 9.6 per cent.

The latest available consumer price index showed that at mid-August, 1973, the percentage increase in the index over mid-May. 1973, was 2.3 per cent, as compared with corresponding increases of 3.0 per cent at mid-May, 1973, and 4.0 per cent at mid-February, 1973.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary relate that information to what was published in the 14-point Programme of the Coalition Parties?

That is a separate question.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary like to guess what the figure may be for mid-November or will it be delayed until after the Monaghan by-election?

I do not make guesses, especially not in this regard.