§ 26. Mr. Parkerasked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish detailed reports of retail prices, which could be based on the list of local prices sent in for the compilation of the cost-of-living figures, and rents paid by the working-class in the principal towns in the country, on comparable lines to the inquiries made in 1908 and 1912?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe inquiries which are made for the purpose of the official cost-of-living figures are designed only to pro- 549 vide a basis for statistics showing the average percentage changes, from month to month, in the average levels of retail prices and working-class rents in Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a whole, and the information obtained is insufficient to serve as a basis for comparisons of the relative levels of retail prices and rents in individual towns. The two inquiries relating to 1905 and 1912 referred to by the hon. Member were specially made at considerable expense, and involved a great amount of elaborate detail.
§ Mr. H. G. WilliamsHow much of this increase is due to the increase in the price of coal since the selling schemes came into operation?