§ Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYasked what were the average weekly earnings of railway servants, as returned to the Board of Trade, in 1899 and 1909 respectively, and the rise in the cost of food, retail, in 1909, as compared with 1899 in London and, if possible, in the provinces?
Mr. BUXTONThe only figures available relate to the average earnings of all classes of workpeople employed by railway companies in the four principal departments in a particular week of each year. Such figures are not properly comparable with changes in prices, as they are affected by the varying proportions employed in each occupation and at each rate, and also by the amount of short time or overtime worked. The figures and the qualifications affecting them are given in the Annual Reports of the Board of Trade on Changes in Wages and Hours, to which I would refer my hon. Friend. The index number of retail prices of certain articles of food in London was 96.4 in 1899 and 108.2 in 1909. I cannot give corresponding figures for the provinces.