HC Deb 19 March 1936 vol 310 cc577-9
6. Mr. GRAHAM WHITE

asked the Minister of Labour the number of wage and salary agreements which are based upon the cost-of-living index, and also the approximate numbers of individuals working under such agreements?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

The number of agreements between employers and workpeople, known to my Department to provide for adjustments of wages and salaries in correspondence with movements in the cost-of-living index figure, is 134; similar arrangements are also in operation, under the provisions of statutory order, in five of the trades to which the Trade Boards Acts have been applied. The total number of employés covered by these arrangements is estimated at between 1,250,000 and 1,500,000. A number of these agreements, however, estimated to cover about 500,000 workpeople, are at present suspended or will not come into effective operation unless there is a substantial rise in the cost-of-living index figure above the present level.

8. Mr. CECIL WILSON

asked the Minister of Labour the prices of all items comprised in the cost-of-living index in 1904, 1918, and at the present time?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIAHEAD

As the reply includes a statistical table, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

The following Table gives the desired information, as regards those commodities for which average retail prices are computed, for July, 1914, July, 1918, and 29th February, 1936; comparable figures are not available for any date prior to July, 1914. For some of the items of which account is taken in computing the cost-of-living index no calculation of average prices is made, the figures used being the averages of the percentage changes in prices indicated by the information collected; in these cases index numbers are given in the Table showing the approximate ratio of prices in July, 1918, and at 29th February, 1936, to those of July, 1914 (taken as = 100).

Item. July, 1914. July, 1918* 29th February, 1936.
A.—Average Prices of Items for which averages are commuted.
Beef, British: s. d. s. d. s. d.
Ribs … … … … per lb. 10 1 6 1 1¼
Thin flank … … … … per lb. 6½ 1 1 7
Beef, chilled or frozen:
Ribs … … … … … per lb. 7¼ 1 6 8¾
Thin flank … … … … per lb. 4¾ 1 0¾ 4½
Mutton, British:
Legs … … … … … per lb. 10½ 1 7 1 3
Breast … … … … … per lb. 6½ 11¾ 7¼
Mutton, frozen:
Legs … … … … … per lb. 6¾ 1 7 9½
Breast … … … … … per lb. 4 11 3¾
Bacon (streaky)† … … … … per lb. 11¼ 2 2¾ 1 2
Flour … … … … per 7 lb. 10½ 1 4 1 1¼
Bread … … … … per 4 lb. 5¾ 9 8¼
Tea … … … … per lb. 1 6¼ 2 8 1 11½
Sugar (granulated) … … … per lb. 2 7 2¼
Milk … … … … per quart 3½ 6 6¾
Butter:
Fresh … … … … per lb. 1 2½ 2 4½ 1 3¼
Salt … … … … per lb. 1 2¼ 2 1½ 1 1¾
Cheese … … … … per lb. 8¾ 1 5 9
Margarine … … … … per lb. 7 1 0 5¾
Eggs (fresh) … … … … each 1¼ 4¼ 1½
Potatoes … … … … per 7 lb. 4¾ 7½ 8
Coal … … … … per ton. 23 0 38 5 43 11
per cwt. 1 2½ 2 1 2 3¼
Gas … … … per 1,000 cubic feet 2 3½ 3 5½ 3 4
Lamp oil … … … … per gallon 9 1 11¾ 10½
Candles (cheap wax) … … … per lb. 3½ 1 2 4¼
Matches … … … … per 12 boxes 1¼ 1 0 10¼‡
Soap … … … … per lb. 3¾ 8½ 4¼
Soda … … … … per 7 lb. 3¼ 6 6
per lb. ½ 1 1
B.—Index numbers showing the ratio of prices to those of July, 1914 (taken as = 100).
Fish … … … … … … 100 290 201
Rent (including rates) … … … … l00 102 158
Clothing … … … … … … 100 320 185 to 190
Fares … … … … … … 100 120 155
Newspapers … … … … … … 100 165 190
Domestic utensils … … … … … 100 230 160
Tobacco and cigarettes … … … … 100 200 220
* The figures for July, 1918, relate to the beginning of the month.
† If this kind is seldom dealt with in a locality, the returns quote the prices of another kind locally representative.
‡ Prices of boxes averaging other than 50 matches have been adjusted proportionately to produce the equivalent price for 50.

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