HC Deb 22 June 1939 vol 348 cc2435-6
13. Mr. Day

asked the Minister of Labour the cost-of-living index figure for the 12 months ended the last convenient date and the comparable figure for the previous 12 months?

Mr. E. Brown

For the 12 months ended 1st June, 1939, the official cost-of-living index figures averaged 55 per cent, above the level of July, 1914, compared with 57 per cent, for the 12 months ended 1st June, 1938.

Mr. Day

Is the right hon. Gentleman going to do anything in regard to these cost-of-living index figures?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Member will notice there has been a drop.

Sir Herbert Williams

Will the Minister consider laying the Ministry of Labour Gazette as a Parliamentary Paper so that there will be no longer any necessity for hon. Members to ask these questions?

24. Mr. T. Smith

asked the Minister of Labour what is the position with regard to the inquiry into the revision of the cost-of-living index figures?

Mr. Brown

I would refer the hon. Member to the Reply which I gave on 9th February to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Jarrow (Miss Wilkinson). Substantial progress has since been made with the tabulation of the 50,000 budgets received but, having regard to the amount of work involved, the results of the inquiry will not be available for some time to come.

Mr. Smith

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very definite statements in the Press during the week-end about the inquiry, and in view of the fact that the present cost-of-living index figures bear no relation to the increase in the cost-of-living in some localities, will he expedite the inquiry?

Mr. Brown

A special staff is now engaged on this work. As the House knows, it is the largest thing of its kind that has been done anywhere. The inquiry was concluded some months ago, but I would not expect to get the results in tabulated form for some time yet.