§ 16. Major Guy Lloydasked the Minister of Labour whether he will cause to be published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette, in connection with material there published on average earnings of industry and wage rates, a regular tabular statement of the period of work required for the purchase of those articles of food and clothing which enter into the cost-of-living index.
§ Mr. IsaacsI regret that the material necessary for such a calculation is not available.
§ 18. Mr. Marplesasked the Minister of Labour what social benefits are included in the cost-of-living index.
§ Mr. IsaacsI assume the hon. Member is referring to such payments as 1946 insurance contributions, payments to pension funds, and payments of Income Tax in so far as they are necessitated by the requirements of social benefit schemes. The answer is they are not taken into account in the calculation of the interim index of retail prices.
§ Mr. Peter FreemanMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether, when this information is provided for any comparable statistics such as the United Nations cost-of-living index, attention will be called to that fact, so that there may be access to the relevant statistics?
§ Mr. IsaacsI will look into that point and see what necessary information can be given, but I think the position was made quite clear in the original report of the committee which made the recommendations.