§ 3. Mr. BOWENasked the Minister of Labour what percentage of decontrolled houses are now included in compiling the cost-of-living index figure; what was the 354 average rent which entered into the 1914 index figure; and what is the present average rent?
§ Miss BONDFIELDFor the purpose of the cost-of-living index it is estimated that, of pre-War houses in working-class tenancy the proportion now decontrolled is approximately one-eighth. As regards the second part of the question, the index figure for rents is arrived at by a process of averaging the percentage increases added to pre-War rents, and the average increase included in the latest index figure is 54 per cent.; no calculations are made as to the average amount of rent actually paid. Further details are given in the memorandum on the "Cost of Living Index Number" recently published.
§ Mr. BROCKWAYMay I ask the right hon. Lady, if I heard her correctly that one-eighth was the proportion of houses in working-class tenancy which are now decontrolled, whether it is based on any recent investigations into working-class houses?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThat is the proportion approximately of the pre-War houses.