asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the prices of commodities such as those imported by the ESB have recently increased on the world market.
Written Answers. - ESB Imports.
62.
I understand that the principal commodities imported by the ESB are oil, electrical and mechanical equipment, steel and transformers. There has been an increase since September/October, 1975, of 36 per cent in the import price of oil, about 16 per cent of this increase being due to the devaluation of sterling, the balance being an increase in the world market price.
In the case of the other commodities mentioned I understand that over the past six months there has been an average increase of 7 per cent in world market prices. In addition, items purchased outside the sterling area would be subject to a further increase of 12 per cent-16 per cent due to devaluation.