§ 19. Mr. LOUIS SMITHasked the Minister of Labour the classes of a non-industrial type to which is applied the cost-of-living index which is based on an industrial budget; and whether she can arrange for the compilation of two cost-of-living indexes, one of which would apply to industrials and the other to non-industrials?
§ Miss BONDFIELDClasses of a non-industrial type whose remuneration varies in accordance with movements in the cost-of-living index number include officers of His Majesty's Forces, the Civil Service and clerks employed by a few local authorities. The information necessary for the compilation of a separate se[...]es of cost-of-living index numbers such as the hon. Member suggests is not available.
§ Mr. SMITHDoes the right hon. Lady consider that it is quite equitable for non-industrial workers?
§ 22. Mr. HAMMERSLEYasked the Minister of Labour if she can give any statistics to show the present cost of rent, as included in the cost-of-living index, compared with the cost of rent in 1913, and contrast these figures with the variation in the level of wholesale prices over the same period?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe average increase in working-class rents, including rates, as calculated for the cost-of-living index number, is 54 per cent, above the level of July, 1914. Comparison with 1913 is not available. The average increase in wholesale prices between 1913 and December, 1930, as shown by the Board of Trade index number, is 8.9 per cent.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYDo not those figures show that we must have a considerable reduction in the cost of rents if we are to get back to competitive production in this country?