asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of each year since 1972 up to the latest year for which figures are available (a) the cost-of-living index number and (b) the reason for the increase.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the consumer price index —with base mid-November, 1968, as 100—for mid-February each year together with the contributions of the main commodity groups to the overall annual percentage changes.

Following is the statement:—

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (BASE MID-NOVEMBER 1968 AS 100) FOR MID-FEBRUARY 1972—1977 AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MAIN COMMODITY GROUPS TO THE OVERALL ANNUAL PERCENTAGE CHANGES

Can the Parliamentary Secretary answer the second part of the question—(b) the reason for the increase.

No, Sir, I cannot answer that. The Central Statistics Office, in sending up the material for the reply, did not attempt to answer it. I take it the reason for their not attempting to answer it is that the reasons would be multifarious and possibly not even objectively capable of agreement.

Devastating.

There are a lot of different reasons and some of these might be arguable for increases in various commodities and services.

Could the reason be condensed into the fact that the Government were completely incompetent and allowed the situation to develop?

No. No matter what I say the Deputy will make statements like that for his own satisfaction.

3.

asked the Taoiseach the price increases of each item on the consumer price index between mid-February, 1973, and mid-February, 1977, or the nearest available dates.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the percentage price changes between mid-February, 1973, and mid-February, 1977, for the item headings distinguished in the consumer price index.

Following is the statement:

Percentage price changes between mid-February, 1973 and mid-February, 1977 for item headings distinguished in the Consumer Price Index.

4.

asked the Taoiseach the average price of the following items in March, 1973, and in March, 1977, or the nearest available date: a pint of beer in a Dublin public bar, a gallon of grade I petrol, 20 untipped cigarettes, 1 lb of baby food, a glass of whiskey, road tax on a 12 hp car, a colour television licence, a local telephone call, postage charges for local letters and the bus fares to the city centre from Ballyfermot, Inchicore, Bluebell and Drimnagh, Dublin.

I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the information requested in so far as it is available. For certain items only percentage changes in national price levels derived from the consumer price index (CPI) can be provided for the period mid-February, 1973, to mid-February, 1977.

Following is the statement:

(i) Prices charged in March 1973 and March 1977.

*Operative to 20 March, 1977

†Operative from 21 March, 1977.

(ii) Percentage changes in national price levels between mid-February 1973 and mid-February 1977 derived from the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Could the Parliamentary Secretary indicate the increase in baby food as distinct from other items?

I am afraid the percentage change in baby food is not available.

The Parliamentary Secretary must have it if he is circulating the list.

Because the list the Parliamentary Secretary has does not appear to be as extensive as it might be, could he not give us the information required now?

It is nearly a full page. I do not mind reading it out if the House does not mind waiting. But the only commodity for which the CSO tell me there is not an available figure is in respect of baby food. I can give the Deputy the other percentages without difficulty.

Question No. 4 did not relate to percentages. It sought information about the average price of the following items in March, 1973 and in March, 1977 or the nearest available date: a pint of beer in a Dublin public bar, a gallon of grade I petrol, 20 untipped cigarettes, 1 lb of baby food, a glass of whiskey, road tax on a 12 hp car, a colour television licence, a local telephone call, postage charges for local letters and the bus fares to the city centre from Ballyfermot, Inchicore, Bluebell and Drimnagh, Dublin.

The Deputy may not repeat the question on the Order Paper.

I will answer in respect of all of them in the written reply. The figure for baby foods is not available. That is an answer. In the case of four of the commodities which the Deputy specified, average prices cannot be provided, namely, a pint of beer in a Dublin publichouse, a gallon of grade I petrol, a packet of 20 untipped cigarettes and a glass of whiskey. I am told the reason is that since identical brands, varieties and quantities are not priced in all areas for the compilation of the CPI, identical articles are priced at each source in successive quarters to provide for price changes required for CPI calculations, and these percentages price changes have not been provided for the four items specified by the Deputy but for the most appropriate items which the CPI distinguish. I am afraid that is the best I can do.