HC Deb 20 December 1955 vol 547 cc1819-20
5. Mr. G. Darling

asked the Minister of Labour when he intends to publish the results of the 1953 household budget inquiry.

Mr. Watkinson

The Cost of Living Advisory Committee is at present considering some of the main figures resulting from this inquiry for the purpose of submitting proposals for a further revision of the Retail Prices Index. The Committee has not yet reported, but I hope that it will do so shortly, so that the revision of the index may be carried out and the detailed results of the budget inquiry may be published.

Mr. Darling

Can I take it from the reply that the detailed results will not be published until the new index has been compiled and all the work on the new index has been completed?

Mr. Watkinson

The first task is obviously to deal with the index, because, after all, that is the prime purpose of the inquiry. Therefore, the hon. Member is quite right in assuming that we want to get the index revised first. Shortly after that, it should be possible to publish the detailed results.

Mr. Darling

Has the hon. Gentleman any idea of the date?

Mr. Watkinson

No, Sir.

7. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Labour how far the cost of living has gone up since 1945 in money terms and also in man hours worked.

Mr. Watkinson

I regret that I cannot express the rise in monetary terms, nor can I give reliable comparisons with any period earlier than 1947 when the existing Retail Prices Index started. Between October, 1947, and April, 1955, the average level of retail prices, as measured by this index, rose by about 45 per cent.

As regards man hours worked, I am not clear what my hon. Friend has in mind, but I can say that between the dates referred to the average number of hours worked per week rose from 45.2 to 46.9, whilst information available indicates that the average hourly earnings of manual workers rose by 62 per cent. in the same period. In consequence, the rise in average weekly earnings was about 68 per cent.

Mr. Osborne

Do I understand that the man-hours worked are about 1½ per cent. more than they were in 1945 but the standard of living is considerably higher and therefore, in terms of hours worked, the increase is not greater but smaller?

Mr. Watkinson

I should like to put it in a slightly different way. It is quite fair to say that the same number of hours worked today will earn a considerably better standard of living than was earned in 1947.

Mr. Lee

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that since 1947 production has increased enormously and that if there were not an increase in earnings it would be a grossly unfair result for the workers? Would the hon. Gentleman further take note of the fact that, due to the rapid rise in the cost of living, especially over the last few months, extremely responsible trade unions are now in great difficulties? Would he tell the House why the cost of living is rising so rapidly while export prices and prices overseas are so favourable to us?

Mr. Watkinson

The important thing for my Department to look upon is real earnings, and by real earnings I mean the amount a man receives in real terms for his work. That has improved considerably since 1947.