§ 13. Mr. Peter Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the rise in the cost of living in Dominica since the devaluation of the pound; and what steps are being taken to remedy the hardship which has resulted from the said rise.
The Minister of State for Colonial Affairs (Mr. JohnDugdale)The Dominica index snowed an increase of about 8 per cent. in the cost of living between September, 1949, and April, 1950. The index is, however, in need of revision and the actual rise was probably greater than this. The effect of devaluation on the cost of living has been offset to an important extent by increased commercial activity, particularly in the growing and shipment of bananas. The wages of Government manual workers have recently been increased by a third and agricultural daily wages by a fifth.