HC Deb 21 May 1914 vol 62 c2139
79. Sir RICHARD COOPER

asked the President of the Board of Trade which foreign and Colonial Governments have in recent years instituted inquiries into the causes of the rise in prices and cost of living; if it is proposed to institute an inquiry in this country; what proposals have been made for an international inquiry; and what is the attitude of the British Government to those proposals?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Burns)

The United States of America, New Zealand, and the Argentine Republic have published the results of inquiries into the causes of the rise in prices and cost of living, but the Royal Commission appointed by the Dominion of Canada last December has not yet reported. It is not, at present, proposed to institute a similar inquiry in this country. If a definite proposal were made by a foreign Government for an international inquiry, the matter would receive the careful consideration of His Majesty's Government.