§ 11. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that in the year 1952, the price of butter and haricot beans rose by 45–50 per cent., sago 45 per cent., crockery 50–75 per cent., kitchen equipment 10–20 per cent.; and if he will 199 accordingly revise his figure of the cost of living to take into account these rises and those mentioned in the list of 97 items submitted to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North.
§ Mr. WatkinsonWithout accepting the hon. Member's figures, I am aware that some prices rose during 1952 while other prices fell. The Interim Index of Retail Prices is based on widespread inquiries regarding the price changes for a large and thoroughly representative sample of the goods and services entering into the expenditure of working-class households. The Cost of Living Advisory Committee recently undertook a thorough review of the working of the index since it started in 1947, and certain revisions were made to the index in January, 1952.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Minister aware that the figures I have quoted were supplied by the catering employers and have been accepted by the Catering Employers' Association? Is he further aware of the fact that over 100 items have risen in percentages varying from five to 100, and can he say whether or not these 100 items are included in the figures he has mentioned?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI quite agree, and I thank the hon. Member for sending me a very interesting document, but the point is this: the interim index was carefully constructed to provide a fair and sound basis on which the wages of some 2 million workpeople could be based. I do not think that I can do better than quote the conclusions of the report on the working of the interim index which says, in reference to the present index:
We think that there are no grounds for the belief that the all-items index figure at present either under-states or over-states the rise in the level of retail prices since June, 1947.