asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he has made any assessment as to the impact of recent price increases, approved by him, on the cost of living; and if he will indicate, on the basis of estimates available to him, if price increases presently being sought will appreciably add to the cost of living next year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price Increases.
28.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the price increase recommendations contained in the August/September 1978 Report of the National Prices Commission which was published on 3 November 1978. The price increases approved by me will result in an increase of 0.0444 per cent in the Consumer Price Index.
The latest estimates available to me suggest that the year-on-year inflation rate to mid-November 1978 will be less than the 8.2 per cent recorded to mid-August 1978. The Government's policy has been to achieve a substantial reduction in the inflation rate in the period from 1977 to 1980. This will continue to be the Government's objective.
Can the Minister say whether the November figure mentioned takes into account the most recent increases?
Yes.
What are the calculations?
That it will be less than the 8.2 per cent recorded.
29.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if it is his intention to resume the practice whereby price changes are published in the national newspapers, so that the public may be informed.
In their January 1975 Report, the National Prices Commission recommended that the practice of advertising in the national newspapers, on the date of publication of each NPC monthly report, the list of authorised price increases referred to in that report, should be discontinued. The reasons for this recommendation are set out in detail in the report mentioned. Copies of the report are available in the Oireachtas Library and were circulated to each Deputy at the time of publication.
My predecessor accepted the commission's recommendation. The circumstances under which the commission made their recommendation have not changed and I do not consider, therefore, that the publication, by way of advertisements of price increases authorised, would be of any more benefit to the consumer at the present time.
I am surprised to find that the Minister's brief refers with approval to a decision of a predecessor.
A question, Deputy.
The Minister is probably aware that her Minister claimed to have the formula for containing all price increases and believed also that the more public information could be transmitted the better. Would the Minister agree that it would be helpful now, despite what the Prices Commission or her predecessor may have said, if the present Government reviewed the position to see that the public are informed about price changes in the public interests?
Since price increases by firms which have been wholly or partially exempted from price control are not included in the list of authorised price increases, the list is no longer comprehensive, and since the majority of the price increases sanctioned will have taken place prior to the publication of the report, it only confuses consumers.
It certainly confuses them but it is definite information available to the public. When the Minister was in Opposition he was very vocal in advocating the need for the public to know whether it confused them or not, about changes in the price structures. Would it not be wise to review the situation so that the public could be brought up-to-date in relation to price increases? Otherwise the feeling grows up in the public mind that there is a stealthy increase in prices without public notification and this would not be in the public interest.
I am sure the Deputy will agree that the media have never been slow to publicise fully the effects of price increases and the various increases which take place.
If one of the reasons given by the Minister for the cessation of publication of the increases is because the list is not as comprehensive as the Minister would like it to be, would the Minister consider publishing such a list as a comprehensive guide to shoppers?
That question has already been answered. We have completed the hour for Question Time.
The Minister gave as one of her reasons for the cessation of publication the fact that the list is not as comprehensive as it should be and I am suggesting——
Is the Deputy asking a question?
I always ask a question.
I am waiting. The Deputy is making a long statement which the Chair is opposed to. Questions couched in long statements are leading to complaints from other Members because their questions are not reached.
The Chair cannot complain about what I have said because I just uttered a few words. A lot of other statements have been made but the Members involved were not stopped by the Chair. Why is it that the Government will not publish a comprehensive list of price increases regularly?
I have replied to that question.
The Minister indicated that it was decided not to publish the list because it might be misleading in view of the fact that it would not be a comprehensive list.
That was very considerate of the Minister.
Why not publish the comprehensive list? Will the Minister answer my question?
The Chair is not responsible for replies.
Will the Minister, in making up her mind as to whether such a list might be published, take into consideration the readily available information within 100 yards of this House as to the extraordinary variation in price for the same things that cannot be correct? There has been a stealthy creep up in prices and there is no doubt about that.
To be fully comprehensive advertisements of this type would have to be published in each of the provincial newspapers as well as the national newspapers. In 1975 the National Prices Commission estimated that the cost of inserting the advertisement in the national newspapers, not including the provincials, would be £30,000 for that year. I am sure the House will agree that advertising rates in newspapers have increased by 67.5 per cent since 1975. The present cost of such advertisements, particularly if this was extended to provincial newspapers, as it should be, would be excessive in relation to the benefit to the public.
I accept that because it would be necessary now to put in much bigger advertisements.
Would the Minister consider making available frequently a list of such prices for the benefit of those who would wish to get them because in many cases provincial newspapers would be pleased to publish such lists free of charge?
I will consider that suggestion.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I wish to give notice of my intention to raise on the Adjournment this evening the proposed increase in house mortgage interest rates and the steps the Government propose to take in regard to them.
I will communicate with the Deputy. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.