HC Deb 16 March 1910 vol 15 cc336-7
Mr. STAVELEY-HILL

asked what Reports on the cost of living in certain foreign countries are still to be issued?

Mr. BUXTON

The only Report on the cost of living in a foreign country still to be issued as the result of inquiries recently carried out by the Board of Trade is that relating to the United States of America.

Mr. STAVELEY-HILL

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposed to issue the volume of Reports by the Board of Trade investigators into the cost of living of the working classes in the United States; and to what cause was the delay attributed?

The following question, of which Sir WILLIAM BULL had given notice, also appeared on the Notice Paper: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Report on wages and cost of living amongst the working men in the United States will be available?

Mr. BUXTON

There has been no delay in this matter. The inquiries in the United States occupied the whole of 1909, and the statistics and reports based on the very large amount of information collected are now being prepared. This work is being pressed forward as rapidly as possible, but it requires great care and labour, and it is not anticipated that the report can be published before the autumn of this year.

Mr. CLYNES

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Board of Trade will issue any report with respect to the cost of living of the richer classes?

Mr. BUXTON

I think the hon. Gentleman should wait to see how far the reports which are to be issued contain information in regard to the cost of living generally.