§ 56. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in the townships and villages around St. Just and Pendeen, in the Land's End district, the rate of, wages is the lowest in England, and through the inaccessible position of these centres the cost of living is greatly increased by transport charges from the nearest railway or port centre, and that coal in these villages is about 4s. per cwt., and very difficult to obtain even at that; and whether he will cause local inquiries to be made as to wages earned and cost of living, and collect and publish a few selected family budgets of the inhabitants in this particular area?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am aware that wages in the Land's End district are relatively low and that the price of coal is high On the other hand, it would appear that, taken on the whole, the cost of living in that district is not above the general average. I doubt whether the results of an inquiry such as the hon. Member suggests would be of sufficient significance to justify the expense which would be involved, but I will consider whether this district can be included within the scope of any future general inquiry into wages and cost of living.