asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will state each price increase that has been approved since the publication of the last NPC Report, and in each case (a) the date of approval; (b) the amount of the increase; and (c) if the NPC requested their consultants or other independent body to examine the reasons for the increase.
Written Answers. - Price Increases.
504.
The last report of the National Prices Commission to be published was that for November 1977 which was published on 13 January 1978 and contained details of price increase proposals on which the commission made recommendations during the period 26 October 1977 to 22 November 1977. The information requested by the Deputy, therefore, covers the period 23 November 1977 to 3 March 1978. During this period, two applications were referred by the commission to their consultancy unit for examination, while no applications were referred to outside consultants. All other applications were examined in detail in the prices division of my Department to ensure that only vouched unavoidable cost increases were allowed for compensatory price increases. As the remainder of the information requested by the Deputy is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
|
Firm |
Product/Service Involved |
Increase Approved |
Date of Approval |
|
Lamb Bros., (Dublin) Ltd. |
Jams, jellies and marmalades etc. |
4.62% (average) |
5/12/77 |
|
Premier Dairies Ltd., Dublin |
Buttermilk and slimline milk |
1½ per pint (retail) |
4/1/78 |
|
Hughes Dairy Ltd., Dublin |
Buttermilk and slimline milk |
1½ per pint (retail) |
|
|
Clayton Love Distribution Ltd., Dublin |
Findus range of frozen foods |
.4% |
23/12/77 |
|
Waterford Coal Merchants Association |
Polish coal |
£1.31 per ton retail |
9/12/77 |
|
Irish Press Ltd., Dublin |
(i) Advertising rates in Irish Press, Sunday Press and Evening Press |
14.75% (average) |
5/1/78 |
|
(ii) Cover price of Sunday Press |
1p per copy |
||
|
Irish Flour Millers' |
£per tonne |
||
|
Association |
Bakers Flour |
19.68 |
21/2/78 |
|
Shop Flour |
16.54 |
||
|
Bakers Wheatenmeal |
11.60 |
||
|
Shop Wheatenmeal |
10.28 |
||
|
Chivers & Sons Ltd., Dublin |
Jams, jellies and marmalades |
3.14% (average) |
30/12/77 |
|
Kylemore Bakeries Ltd., Dublin |
Flour confectionery products |
4.41% (average) |
3/1/78 |
|
Irish Bakery and Confectionery Trades Association |
400 gm loaf800 gm loaf1,600 gm loaf |
½p1½p3p |
27/2/78 |
|
Siemens Ltd., Dublin |
Service charges for domestic appliances (excluding televisions) |
(i) £8 for first ½ hour + VAT(ii) Introduction of mileage charge of 12p per mile over 15 miles |
21/12/77 |
|
The Irish Agricultural Organisation Society Ltd. (Butter Manufacturers Association) |
Butter |
An increase of 1½p per lb. at retail level |
25/1/78 |
|
rgas Ltd., Arklow, County Wicklow |
Bottled gas: |
||
|
(i) 26 lb. butane cylinder |
(i) 4.5p per cylinder |
20/2/78 |
|
|
(ii) 24 lb propane cylinder |
(ii) 4.5p per cylinder |
||
|
(iii) Dealers' margins |
(iii) 1p per cylinder |
||
|
Alfred Bird & Sons (I) Ltd., Dublin |
Range of manufactured dessert products |
5% (average) |
23/12/77 |
|
Ground Limestone Producers Association |
Ground Limestone |
£0.27 per ton |
21/12/77 |
|
G.W.I. Ltd.—incorporating Cappincur Joinery Ltd. |
Joinery products |
15% interim increase from 1 December 1977 |
5/12/77 |
|
Manpower (Ireland) Dublin |
Rates charged to clients |
Amounts ranging between 6.7% and 23% |
9/12/77 |
|
Sanbra Fyffe Ltd., Dublin |
(i) Plumbers' Brassware and Compression Couplings |
2.45% |
24/1/78 |
|
(ii) Plumbers' Brassware |
Alteration of trading terms resulting in additional annual revenue of £23,527 |
||
|
Ashtown Tinbox (Ireland) Ltd., Dublin |
Lever lid tins, drums and other general line products |
9.23% |
9/12/77 |
|
Flemings' Fireclays Ltd., County Kildare |
One hundred fireclay products |
3.80% (average) |
9/12/77 |
|
Ordnance Survey Office, Dublin |
Ordnance Survey large and small scale maps, related documents and services |
25% (average) |
30/12/77 |
|
William O'Brien (Plant Hire) Ltd., Dublin |
Charges for waste disposal service and rental |
29.67% (average) |
23/12/77 |
|
Associated Irish Gases Ltd., Dublin |
Bulk Liquid Carbon Dioxide |
1% |
23/12/77 |
|
Irish Industrial Gases Ltd., Dublin |
Industrial and Medical cylinder gases, cylinder rentals and delivery service charges |
8.4% (average) |
4/1/78 |
|
William Fanagan Ltd., Dublin |
Hearse, motor hire and wreaths |
10% |
29/12/77 |
|
Robert Wilson & Sons Ireland Ltd. |
Meat and bone meal (bulk and bagged) |
£5.00 per tonne |
7/12/77 |
|
Leo Laboratories Ltd. |
Seven Medical products |
Amounts ranging between 15% and 50% (17.1% average) |
6/12/77 |
|
Penwalt of Ireland Ltd. |
Two veterinary products(i) Four lines(ii) Two lines |
(i) Amounts ranging between 12.1% and 15.8%(ii) Amounts ranging between 14.6% and 16.7% |
6/12/77 |
|
Glaxo Laboratories (I) Ltd., Dublin |
Seven pharmaceutical products |
Amounts ranging between 1.1% and 13.8% |
9/12/77 |
|
Douegal Design Ltd. |
Clothing |
Amounts ranging between 4.35% and 11.41% |
13/12/77 |
|
Inisfree Handknits (Gael-linn teo.) |
Hand-knitted goods |
15% |
14/12/77 |
|
Wiggins Teape (Ireland) Ltd., Dublin |
Envelopes, stationery, and books |
6.8% |
19/12/77 |
|
Bord na Mona, Dublin |
Moss peat |
Increases sufficient to achieve additional annual revenue of £17,500 |
9/1/78 |
|
Irish Ropes Ltd., Newbridge, County Kildare |
Five lines of carpet |
Amounts ranging between 3.23% and 9.1% |
21/12/77 |
|
Glaxo Laboratories (I) Ltd., Dublin |
Ethnine and Piriex |
Increases to achieve annual additional revenue of £3,625 |
21/12/77 |
|
Oerlikon Electrodes (Ireland) Ltd., Dublin |
Manual Are Welding Electrodes |
Amounts ranging between 8% and 12½% |
9/1/78 |
|
True Temper (Ireland) Ltd., County Cork |
Farm and garden tools |
6% |
9/1/78 |
|
Roux International Ltd., Dublin |
3 Hair Cosmetic lines |
Amounts ranging between 10% and 20% |
5/1/78 |
|
Youghal Carpets Ltd., Cork |
Carpets |
Amounts ranging between 4.5% and 7.3% |
5/1/78 |
|
Irish Ropes Ltd., Droichead Nua |
6 cordage products |
Amounts ranging between 2.4% and 14.5% |
5/1/78 |
|
Goulding Chemicals Ltd. |
Range of Horticultural Fertilisers |
10.8% (average) |
30/12/77 |
|
Arigna Collieries Ltd., County Roscommon |
All products (coals) |
£2.25 per ton |
5/12/77 |
|
Clayton Love Distribution Ltd., Dublin |
Frozen Brussels Sprouts |
5p per 8 oz. packet 2p per 12 oz. packet |
27/12/77 |
|
Cadbury Ireland Ltd., Dublin |
Chocolate bars, packet biscuits and food drinks |
1.15% (average) |
17/1/78 |
|
Batchelors Ltd., Dublin |
Canned Soft Drinks |
4.6% |
17/1/78 |
|
Wexford Gas Consumers Co. Ltd. |
Town Gas:(i) First 50 therms per quarter(ii) Over 50 therms per quarter |
(i) 2.5p per therm(ii) 2.5p per therm |
13/1/78 |
|
Cork Taxi Association |
Extra charges for:(i) Baggage handling(ii) Unsocial hours (mid-night to 8.00 a.m.) and Bank Holidays including 25 and 26 December |
(i) Introduction of a charge of 10p per piece or item(ii) 10p per hiring |
17/1/78 |
|
Limerick Coal Importers |
(i) Anthracite nuts(ii) Phurnex |
(i) £14.22 per tonne(ii) £15.19 per tonne |
24/1/78 |
|
Calor Gas Ireland Ltd. |
Bottled Gas and central heating charges |
Amounts sufficient to achieve additional annual revenue of £93,780 |
20/2/78 |
|
Lever Bros. Ireland Ltd., Dublin |
(i) Household and Industrial Detergents and Toilet preparations(ii) Household detergents and toiletries |
(i) 4.6% (average)(ii) Increase of 2% average in cash margins |
20/1/78 |
|
Galway Coal Importers |
Polish coal |
£1.33 per ton |
23/1/78 |
|
Johnson Bros. Ltd., Dublin |
Jaybe, Sparkle and Drummer Products |
5.4% (average) |
23/1/78 |
|
National Board & Paper Mills Ltd., County Waterford |
All paper mill products |
13% (average) |
27/1/78 |
|
Raytex Ltd., Dublin |
13 Paper products |
Increases ranging between 5p and 90p per unit. |
30/1/78 |
|
Independent Newspapers Ltd., Dublin |
Cover price of the “Sunday Independent” |
1p per copy |
2/2/78 |
|
Smith & Nephew Southalls (Ireland) Ltd., County Dublin |
(i) Sanitary Protection products(ii) Golden Babe disposable nappies(iii) Atrixo and Nivea(iv) Imported Sanitary Protection Products and Elastoplast |
(i) 4.26% average(ii) 3.6% average(iii) 11.9% average(iv) Increase in cash margins resulting in a price increase of 1.15% average |
27/1/78 |
|
Cheese |
NaturalProcessed |
£13.17 per ton (0.6p per lb.)£11.26 per ton (0.5p per lb.) |
6/2/78 |
|
Cream |
40% fat42% fat44% fat46% fat48% fat50% fat |
6.463p per gal.6.788p per gal.7.106p per gal.7.406p per gal.7.706p per gal.8.025p per gal. |
26/1/78 |
|
Wholemilk Powder |
26.5% fat27.5% fat28.5% fat |
£9.86 per ton£10.23 per ton£10.60 per ton |
26/1/78 |
|
Southern Chemicals Ltd., County Limerick |
Hydrated Lime |
1.96% (average) |
18/1/78 |
|
Nitrigin Eireann Teo., Dublin |
Fertiliser (calcium ammonium nitrate 27½%) |
£2.82 per tonne |
18/1/78 |
|
Pump Services Ltd., Dublin |
Maintenance, repair installation and workshop charges |
22.0% (average) |
20/1/78 |
|
Waterford Ironfounders Ltd. |
All home market products |
1.67% (average) |
24/1/78 |
|
The Hospitals Joint Services Board |
Sterile goods and Central Linen Service charges |
20% (average) |
31/1/78 |
|
Zurich Insurance Co., Dublin |
Premium rates for Employers' Liability Insurance |
Application of a premium rate not exceeding £20, on the understanding that compensatory reductions are made in other rating categories so that there is no net increase in overall premium income |
7/2/78 |
|
Sun Alliance and London Insurance Group, Dublin |
Premium rates for Public Liability Insurance |
40% average subject to a maximum individual increase of 50% |
7/2/78 |
|
Mrs. Margaret Dineen, Sligo |
Hairdressing charges |
20% |
30/11/77 |
|
Bernard Hair Stylist |
Hairdressing charges |
5.47%-10% |
9/12/77 |
|
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland |
Charges for pathology services |
12% |
3/1/78 |
|
National Cash Registers Ltd., Dublin |
Maintenance rates |
Amounts ranging between 8½% and 26½% |
3/2/78 |
|
Star Plastics Co. Ltd., County Cavan |
Plastic containers |
8.4% (average) |
2/2/78 |
|
Irish Containers Ltd., Dublin |
Stainless Steel Sinks |
7½% |
16/1/78 |
|
Basta Ltd., County Sligo |
(i) Mortice locks(ii) Cylinder and night latches(iii) All other door furniture |
(i) 5%(ii) 10%(iii) 4% |
16/1/78 |
|
I.C.I. (I) Ltd., Dublin |
3 Veterinary Products |
10% |
16/1/78 |
|
Irish Industrial Explosives Ltd., Dublin |
9 varieties of explosive |
Amounts ranging between 4.36% and 5.26% |
18/1/78 |
|
W. & C. McDonnell Ltd., Dublin |
Royco and St. Bernard Soups, Vesta Meals, Surprise Peas, Beans, Carrots, Savoury Rice, Catering Soups, etc. |
4% |
17/1/78 |
|
Sunday Newspapers Ltd., Dublin |
(i) Cover price of the “Sunday World”(ii) Advertising rates |
(i) 1p per copy (i.e. from 15p to 16p)(ii) 15% |
24/1/78 |
|
True Temper (Ireland) Ltd. |
(i) Beet Forks(ii) Potato Forks |
(i) 17%(ii) 4% |
27/1/78 |
|
Gardisette (I) Ltd. |
Polyester net curtain material |
4% (average) |
26/1/78 |
|
Navan Carpets Ltd. |
7 lines of carpet |
Increases ranging between 4.7% and 6.9% |
23/1/78 |
|
The Irish Dunlop Co. Ltd., Dublin |
4 lines of manufactured protective footwear |
Amounts ranging between 7.7% and 13.7% |
13/2/78 |
|
Thomas Crosbie & Co. Ltd., Cork |
Cover price of the “Evening Echo” |
2p per copy |
27/1/78 |
|
Chubb Fire Security (Ireland) Ltd., Dublin |
Rental and maintenance charges for fire alarm equipment |
15% (average) |
8/2/78 |
|
Pierce Wexford Ltd. |
Farm machinery |
Amounts ranging between 3.9% and 7.5% |
17/2/78 |
|
Beecham of Ireland Ltd. |
Lucozade |
1/2/78 |
|
|
LargeSmallRibena |
12%10% |
1/2/78 |
|
|
StandardFamilyQuosh |
16%21%7.5% |
||
|
Fleetwood Ltd. |
Decorating Products |
3% to 13.6% |
1/2/78 |
|
Irish Bacon Curers Society Ltd. |
Sausages |
3p per lb. |
10/2/78 |
|
P.M.P.A. Insurance Co. Ltd., Dublin |
Motor Insurance Premiums |
35% (average) |
21/2/78 |
|
Ever Ready (I) Ltd., Dublin |
Imported batteries, bulbs, lamps, torches etc. |
Increase in cash margins of 6.6% average |
16/2/78 |
|
Cork City Coal Importers |
Phurnacite |
£3.55 per tonne |
3/3/78 |
|
Automobile Association |
Amounts ranging from |
28/2/78 |
|
|
Dublin |
(i) Five Star—Vehicle Security |
(i) 10p to £10 |
|
|
(ii) Vehicle Inspection |
(ii) 35p to £3.60 |
||
|
(iii) Hotel Registration Fees |
(iii) £7.50 to £12 |
||
|
(iv) Membership |
(iv) 25p to £50 |
||
|
Johnson & Johnson (I) Ltd., County Dublin |
Imported hospital products |
3% |
16/2/78 |
|
Cross Refrigeration Ltd., Cork |
Service charges for commercial and industrial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment |
17.5% (average) |
17/2/78 |
|
The Irish Glass Bottle Co. Ltd., Dublin |
Glass bottles and containers |
6.09% (average) |
27/2/78 |
|
Metal Box Ltd. |
(i) Rental Charges(ii) Maintenance Charges |
(i) Increase sufficient to achieve additional annual revenue of £6,208(ii) Increase sufficient to achieve additional annual revenue ranging from £750 to £1,500 |
24/2/78 |
|
(i) Bolands Ltd., Dublin(ii) Odlum Group Ltd., Dublin |
Biscuit Flour Biscuit Wheatenmeal |
(i) £12.53 per tonne(ii) £11.99 per tonne (i) £9.66 per tonne (ii) £9.55 per tonne |
2/3/78 |
|
Spring Grove Ireland Ltd., County Dublin |
Towel, dust control and garment rental services |
9.67% |
3/3/78 |
|
Dublin Ship Agents Association |
Inward and outward service fees and bills of lading |
15% (average) |
3/3/78 |
|
Astif Ltd., Cork |
Hire charges for fork lift trucks |
£5 per day |
31/1/78 |
|
Dublin Master Victuallers Association, Dublin |
Sausages |
3p per lb. |
10/2/78 |
|
Evode Industries Ltd., Dublin |
Complete range of adhesive and mastic products |
7.1% (average) |
8/2/78 |
|
Wm. McKinney & Sons Ltd., County Donegal |
Sugar and chocolate confectionery— chocolate and fruit assortments sold loosely and pre-packed under the “Oatfield” brand |
8% (average) |
21/2/78 |
|
Irish Raleigh Industries Ltd. |
Complete range of bicycles |
7.5% (average) |
28/2/78 |
|
Smiths Food Group (I) Ltd. |
Chipsticks |
35p per carton (1p per packet retail) |
3/3/78 |
|
Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teo. |
Agricultural machinery spare parts |
20% |
3/3/78 |
|
Albright & Wilson (I) Ltd., County Dublin |
Super Xm Dishwasher detergent and Rinse Aid |
Amounts ranging between 10% and 10.3% |
22/2/78 |
|
Glaxo Laboratories (I) Ltd., Dublin |
8 Pharmaceutical products |
Amounts ranging between 40% and 65% |
23/2/78 |
|
Batchelors Ltd., Dublin.. |
“Canada Dry” bottled soft drinks |
9.2% |
24/2/78 |