§ 23. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Minister of Labour whether she can give the figures of the cost of flour and the cost of the 4 lb. loaf in Great Britain in November, 1929, together with comparable figures for France?
§ Miss BONDFIELDAs the reply is somewhat long, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYMay I ask whether the right hon. Lady can account for the fact that the loaf in France is so much cheaper although the price of flour is so much higher?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIt is rather a long reply. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member had better read it.
§ Following is the reply:
§ In Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the average retail prices charged to working-class purchasers for flour and bread at 30th November, as shown by the information collected for the purpose of the official cost-of-living index figures, were 1s. 4d. per 7 lbs. of flour, and 9d. per 4 lbs. of bread. Corresponding averages for France are not available. It is understood that in Paris the price of white bread at the end of November was 1.95 francs per kilo., equivalent, at current rates of exchange, to nearly 7d. per 4 lbs., but I cannot say whether these figures are on a comparable basis with the figures quoted for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.