§ 7 Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELasked the Minister of Labour (1) the rough percentage estimate, as at June, 1931, of the average increase of full-time weekly wages since July, 1914, for work-people of corresponding grades at the two dates;
(2) the rough percentage estimate, as at June, 1931, of the average increase of hourly rates of wages since July, 1914, for workpeople of corresponding grades at the two dates;
(3) the estimated average increase or decrease in real wages, by adjustment of wages to cost of living, as at June, 1931, as compared with July, 1914, for weekly full-time wages, and similarly for hourly rates of wages, for workpeople of corresponding grades at the two dates?
§ Miss BONDFIELDAs the answer is necessarily somewhat long, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SAMUELMay I ask the right hon. Lady to give one figure for each question?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIt is very difficult to do that.
§ Mr. SAMUELMay I press my question, as I think it ought to be ventilated in the House?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThen, with permission, I will read the whole reply:
The information in my possession is insufficient to provide a bask for precise calculations, but it is estimated, from such particulars as are available, that for workpeople of corresponding grades weekly full-time rates of wages are about 70 per cent. and hourly rates of wages are about 90 to 95 per cent., on average, above the level of July, 1914. At 1st June, 1931, the average level of working-class cost of living, as indicated by the statistics compiled by the Ministry of Labour, was approximately 45 per cent. above that of July, 1914. On this basis, the average increase in "real" rates of wages would appear to have been about 17 per cent., in the case of weekly full-time rates of wages, and between 30 and 35 per cent., in the case of hourly rates of wages. These figures take no account of changes in average earnings resulting from increased unemployment and short-time working, or from changes in the proportions of workers paid at time and piece rates of wages.
§ Mr. SAMUELWill the right hon. Lady allow that to be published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThese figures are taken from the Labour Gazette.
§ Mr. DAYHas the basis upon which the figures are computed in any way been revised during the previous two years?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIt is the same basis.
§ Mr. BROCKWAYHas the right hon. Lady any facts regarding the greater producing capacity between 1914 and the present time?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is another question.