§ Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been directed to the increase in the cost 1008 of living shown by the retail food prices index number prepared by the Board of Trade, and to the fact that the increases of pay granted to postal servants since the Report of the Parliamentary Committee on the subject have been partly or wholly discounted by the increased cost of living; if he is aware that several Continental Governments have recently raised the pay of various State workers in order to compensate them for dearer living; and if he will see that the money wages of British postal servants are adjusted in order that their real remuneration shall not fall below the standard recommended by the Parliamentary Committee?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThere is no adequate information available of the extent of the increase in the cost of living and of its variation in different parts of the kingdom. As the Prime Minister announced on Monday, the Board of Trade are undertaking an inquiry into the matter. At the request of the associations of the Post Office staff the Government has assented to another investigation by Select Committee of this House into the wages of Post Office servants and their other conditions of employment. In view, however, of the fact that the alterations in scales of pay recommended by the last Committee took effect so recently as 1st January, 1908, it is not proposed to move for another Committee until the Session after next. The results of the Board of Trade inquiry will then be available for the information of the Committee.