§ 11. Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Labour if the committee representing the Labour party and its associates have responded to his invitation to submit for investigation the statistical and other bases of their report discrediting the official cost-of-living figure; and if he is inviting independent statistical discreditors of the figure, such as Miss Eleanor Rathbone, Dr. A. L. Bowley, and the London School of Economics, to submit their criticisms for similar investigation?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe particulars asked for have not yet been received, but we have been informed that details of the investigation undertaken by the Joint Committee referred to will be contained in a Report, publication of which is ex- 2134 pected within a few days. The Ministry; of Labour is, I think, already sufficiently familiar with the details of such reasoned criticisms as have appeared from other sources.
§ Mr. HURDDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think it a serious thing to adhere to a figure which is regarded as of no value by both employers and employés? Can he point to any authoritative person who has any faith in these figures outside the persons who are responsible for them?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am aware of the fact that there are two parties. One says that the figures are far too high. The other says that they are far too low. I am disposed to believe that the truth lies in the middle.
§ Mr. HURDIf the right hon. Gentle man calls for detailed information from one side, why does he not call for detailed information from the other as well?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWe have carefully studied Miss Rathbone and Dr. Bowley's reports.
§ Mr. G. EDWARDSAre not the actual figures of the cost of living 20 per cent. higher than the Government figures?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI think that that question affords evidence of the criticism, to which I have referred. My hon. Friend (Mr. Hurd) will note that the hon. Gentleman opposite says that the figures should be 20 per cent. higher.
§ Mr. HURDMy point is that you are asking for information from one set of discreditors and not from the other.
§ 15. Lieut.- Colonel ARCHER-SHEEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in the "Labour Gazette" for June fresh butter was quoted at 2s. 2½d. per pound, whereas large stores and multiple store shops having branches all over the United Kingdom were freely advertising the commodity at 1s. 8d to 1s. 10d. per pound on the 1st day of June, and that as a result of this inflation of price the average percentage increase compared with July, 1914, is stated to be 83 per cent. of this commodity, whereas if the true price was stated, namely, 1s. 8d. to 1s. 10d. per pound, the average percentage increase would have been 39 per cent. above that of July, 1914; whether he is aware that, notwithstanding that 2135 the "Labour Gazette" of May in a footnote states that since the date to which the returns relate there have been considerable reductions in the prices of some articles, especially bacon, the "Labour Gazette" of June quotes bacon, streaky, at 2s. 2¾d. per pound., a reduction of only 1¾d. per pound, although in May this commodity was easily procurable at prices ranging from 1s. 8d. per pound; and whether, in view of these inaccuracies, steps can be taken to compile a more accurate table, in view of the far-reaching importance of the figures compiled from this data?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe prices quoted in the "Labour Gazette" are averages for the United Kingdom as a whole, based on information obtained from retailers in all the larger towns and in over 500 smaller places. I am aware that in some cases butter and bacon could be purchased, on 1st June, at the prices suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend, but in many cases the prices were substantially higher, and the general averages, as computed from all the returns received, were as stated in the "Labour Gazette." As regards the alternative calculation made by my hon. and gallant Friend, I would point out that the minimum prices charged by certain large multiple stores at the present time cannot properly be compared with the general average of prices at July, 1914. Such calculations can only appropriately be made on the basis of comparable figures for the two dates, as is done in the "Labour Gazette."
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEWould the right hon. Gentleman set up a Committee to decide this point? In view of these bloated prices for butter and bacon, cannot something be published more nearly approaching the real price? Every month the same bloated prices are published.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have given an answer to that in anticipation in my reply to another hon. Member (Mr. Hurd).