§ 62. Mr. BECKERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Government Departments were instructed to regard the cost-of-living index figure as 85 in their calculations of staff bonuses for the year 1923–24; whether he is aware that during the past six months the cost-of-living index figure has not risen above 80; and, if so, why were Departments asked to estimate on calculations based on the higher figure?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Major Boyd-Carpenter)The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. The answer to the last part of the question is that it was not considered safe to assume that the average cost-of-living index figure for 1283 the whole year ending March next will be as low as 80.
§ Mr. F. GRAYThat being so, cannot the same rules be applied to the allowances to the wives of serving sailors and soldiers?