§ 30. Mr. ALBERYasked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the percentage increase in the gold value of wages paid in this country due to the rise 1926 in the value of the £ sterling for the period January, 1925, to January, 1926; and whether he can give the percentage fall in the cost of living for the same period?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDAt 31st December, 1925, weekly full-time rates of wages averaged between 1 and 2 per cent. higher than a year earlier. The cost of living figures at the present moment indicate a decrease of a little over 3 per cent. below the corresponding figure for a year ago. I fear that I cannot give an authoritative statement as to how far either the increase in the nominal rates of wages or the decrease in the cost of living figure is due to the rise in the value of the £ sterling.