HC Deb 06 November 1911 vol 30 cc1259-61
Mr. JOHN WARD

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the prices at which farmers disposed of their sheep and cattle at the recent auction fair at Weyhill, Hants, ewes 8s. 6d. and 4s. per head, and lambs 8s. and 7s. per head; and whether the Departmental Committee now inquiring into the cost of living in this country will also inquire as to the cause of the difference between wholesale prices at sales and retail prices in shops of the food of the working classes?

Mr. BUXTON

I understand that the prices quoted by my hon. Friend are extreme minima for a very small number sold in exceptional circumstances for feeding and not for the butcher. I may remind him that the Board of Trade Cost of Living Inquiry is not concerned with the determination of the cause of the difference between wholesale and retail prices, but with the amount and distribution of recent changes in the cost of commodities largely consumed by workmen.

Mr. J. WARD

Will it not be quite a fallacious report if the wholesale prices are not taken into account as well as the retail prices charged to the working classes?

Mr. BUXTON

I may remind the hon. Member that there was an inquiry in 1905, and that the present inquiry is for the purpose of comparison in order to ascertain whether there has or has not been an increase. I do not think from that point of view it would be of very much use to give information which was not given in 1905, and which therefore is not available for the purpose of comparison.

Mr. J. WARD

Would it not be possible for the right hon. Gentleman, now that he is inquiring into the subject again, to find out the prices, and that, if necessary to do so, he should extend the inquiry to wholesale prices?

Mr. BUXTON

I will bear that in mind.

Mr. COOPER

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will be in a position to announce the personnel of the proposed Departmental inquiry into the enhanced cost of living; what will be the terms of reference; will members of the public who are directly concerned be entitled to submit evidence; and will he arrange that the proceedings shall be open to the public?

Mr. BUXTON

The inquiry by the Board of Trade will, generally speaking, be on the lines of that made in 1905, and will be conducted by the officers of the Department in the same way as other of the Statistical Investigations made by the Board of Trade. The results of the 1905 inquiry were embodied in a Report on the Cost of Living of the Working Classes in certain towns (Cd. 3864).

Mr. COOPER

Will the right hon. Gentleman not answer the question—what will the terms of reference be?

Mr. BUXTON

I think that the Prime Minister practically gave the terms. In the case of a Departmental Committee of this sort formal terms of reference are not usual, but I think that the Prime Minister gave the point.

Mr. COOPER

Will this Departmental Committee in addition to ascertaining whether the cost of living has gone up ascertain what the causes are, and how they can be removed, for the benefit of the people?

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the reference is so wide that the question of local rating shall not be confined to one year but shall be carried over a number of years?

Captain CRAIG

Will the committee ascertain why the cost of living is more under a Radical Government than under a Unionist Government?

Mr. SHIRLEY BENN

asked whether, in view of the fact that the increased cost of living is an international problem, and the fact that economists have previously suggested an inquiry on international lines, the Government would be prepared to appoint representatives on an international commission?

Mr. BUXTON

Any definite proposal for the purpose indicated in the question would have the careful consideration of His Majesty's Government.

Mr. COOPER

asked whether, in view of the postponement of any rise in wages amongst postal and kindred employés until the Board of Trade has collected its information on the rise in the cost of living, the Government intends to lay it down as a general rule affecting all workers under its control that no variation in wages is to be granted in the interim period?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)

There is no intention of the kind.

Mr. COOPER

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the postponement of the consideration of the wages of Government employés until 1913 is causing grave discontent and may lead to serious public inconvenience?

The PRIME MINISTER

The statement applies to Post Office servants, whose wages were dealt with by the Committee in 1906.