§ 36 . Mr. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the industrial unrest in the country; the growing number of wage claims being made by the trade unions on behalf of their members to compensate for the continuing rise in the price of food; that the Government cannot give an assurance that food prices will not rise further when these are decontrolled and derationed later in the year; that coal, freight and rail fares are due to rise, bringing about a further increase in the cost of all articles and services to the general public; and whether he will make a statement on the Government's plan to control prices, reduce the cost of living and thereby bring about peace in industry.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe hon. Member has already received very full answers to 1354 Questions on these subjects from me on 19th November, and from my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour on 26th January and 2nd February, and I have nothing to add to these replies.
§ Mr. LewisThey were not answered at all. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that what happened was that the Minister denied the fact that the Minister of Labour confirmed only on Tuesday of this week? I refer him to column 107 of Hansard for 9th February. It is there stated that the cost of living has gone up from 14 per cent. to 29 per cent. since January, 1951. Is it not time that the Government did something to implement their pledge to bring down the cost of living?
§ Mr. MaudlingI can only say to the hon. Member that the facts about the cost of living are none the less facts because they are inconvenient to him.