asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the purchasing price of each of the items which are taken into account when the consumer price index is being compiled; and if he will give the figures at 16 June 1977 and at the latest available date.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving, in so far as they are available, the national average prices for consumer price index items at mid-May 1977, the date nearest to 16 June 1977 for which the index is calculated, and mid-February 1981.

This information is available only for those items where identical varieties and quantities are priced in all areas and meaningful national average prices can be calculated. Percentage price changes are available for all index items. These have already been provided in my reply to Questions Nos. 374 and 376 on Tuesday, 31 March 1981 for the period in question.

Following is the statement:

National Average Prices at mid-May 1977 and mid-February 1981.

* Not seasonally adjusted.

Question No. 3 has been postponed.