HC Deb 31 May 1956 vol 553 cc425-7
24. Mr. Lewis

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage rise in the cost of living since June, 1954.

Mr. Iain Macleod

As measured by the Retail Prices Index, the average level of retail prices rose by nearly 11 per cent. between June, 1954, and April, 1956.

Mr. Lewis

Could the Minister give some explanation why this rise has taken place? In view of the fact that we have had promises over the last six years that the Government were going to reduce the cost of living and bring down this Index, can he explain further why some positive action has not been taken? We have had two Chancellors of the Exchequer, both of them saying they were going to deal with this problem, and both of them have made it worse. May we ask the Minister of Labour whether he will do something about it?

Mr. Macleod

That is a very easy subject to deal with. The hon. Member is, of course, leaving out the rest of the story, the major part of which is that as against 11 per cent., taking exactly the same months, there has been a nearly 15 per cent. increase in wage rates.

Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that the cost of living index rose 11 per cent. in the last single year of Labour rule? Is it not equally true that since that time the wages index has risen far more than the cost of living?

Mr. Macleod

I can assure my hon. Friend that the cost-of-living figures which he gave are much too favourable to the Labour Government. The Index rose substantially more than that.

Mr. G. Brown

Coming to more modern history, did the Minister, when he worked out these figures, take into account the potatoes that nobody can find at the price the Minister of Agriculture alone can find them?

Mr. Speaker

I thought we had got off potatoes.

25. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Labour by how many points the cost-ofliving index has increased this year up to the latest convenient date; and how this compares with similar periods in 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1955.

Mr. bin Macleod

Taking the level of prices in June, 1947 as 100, the Retail Prices Index rose by five points between January and April of this year. In the corresponding periods in 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1955 the numbers of points by which the Index rose were three, three, two and one, respectively.

Mr. Dodds

Is the right hon. Gentleman really not ashamed to make a declaration that in 1956 the cost of living has gone up during that period faster than it has since 1951, when promises were given to stabilise prices and bring them down? In view of the fact that world prices have been reduced or at least stabilised, what has gone wrong? Were those promises made only to win the Election? How can the right hon. Gentleman, as Minister of Labour, expect to get tranquillity in industry?

Mr. Speaker

Order. This is becoming a debate.

Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing

On a point of order. I wonder if you could give some guidance, Mr. Speaker. I understood that one could not have Questions put on the Order Paper if in fact the information was available in normal Government publications. This information is all included in a publication which is available in every single room in the Library. Why do hon. Members put these sort of Questions down?

Mr. Speaker

It is true that Questions Are inadmissible if the information which they ask for is readily available; but sometimes a Question is put in such a way that the precise figure asked for does not appear in the publications. I would not be prepared to say whether that is the case here, but I will look into it.

Mr. Dodds

Further to that point of order. For the education of the hon. Member, would he take note that the Question says, "up to the latest convenient date "? That means for this month, the figures for which are known by the Minister but not yet published.

Mr. Speaker

That may be the explanation.