§ 16. Mr. L. SMITHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the average cost per head of victualling the personnel of the Royal Navy in 1913–14 and 1930–31, respectively; whether any substantial changes have taken place with regard to the amount and quality of the food supplied; and whether the cost of victualling is found to coincide in general with the average increase in the cost of food as indicated by the Ministry of Labour food-price index figures?
§ Mr. AMMONThe daily cost per head of victualling in 1913–14 was 10½.; it will be approximately 1s. 3½d. for 1930–31 and will fall to 1s. 3d. on 1st April next, an adjustment of prices being made every six months. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the third part of the question, the Ministry of Labour food-price index figures are confined to the United Kingdom, and direct comparison therewith cannot be fairly made.