HC Deb 15 July 1930 vol 241 c1105
59. Mr. MORLEY

asked the Minister of Labour the level of the real wages of the people of Great Britain for the half-year ended June, 1930, as compared with the half-year ended June, 1929?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Lawson)

In the half-year ended June, 1930, working-class cost of living, as indicated by the index numbers compiled by the Ministry of Labour, averaged approximately 21 per cent. lower than in the half-year ended June, 1929. Weekly full-time rates of wages, in the half-year ended June, 1930, were slightly lower, on average, than in the half-year ended June, 1929, the difference being less than ½ of 1 per cent. On this basis, it would appear that real wages for a full week had risen, on average, by rather more than 2 per cent.