§ 36. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Labour what has been the percentage increase in the retail price index since August, 1951.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodNearly 32 per cent.
§ Captain PilkingtonWill my right hon. Friend confirm that the comparative figure for 1945–51 was about 40 per cent?
§ Mr. H. HyndHow comes it that it has risen by 32 per cent. when the Conservatives promised to reduce the cost of living?
§ 37. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Labour what has been the percentage increase in actual earnings since August, 1951.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodHalf-yearly inquiries covering manual wage earners in manufacturing industries generally and in a number of the principal non-manufacturing industries showed that in October, 1957, the average weekly earnings per worker had risen by 50½ per cent. since October, 1951. Figures for dates later than October, 1957, are not available.
§ Captain PilkingtonWill my right hon. Friend agree that the contrast between the two figures he has given will be very widely appreciated as showing the great increase in the standard of living under the Conservative Government?
§ Mr. MacleodIt is, of course, common knowledge on both sides of the House that there has been an enormous increase in living standards under the Tory Government.
Mr. LeeWill the Minister not agree that this figure is quite misleading unless we have other details? How many more hours are being worked, for instance, to produce the increased earnings? Further, will he not say a word of congratulation to the workers for managing to increase their productivity despite all the efforts of the Government to keep it down?
§ Mr. MacleodEven if one takes rates of wages, the increase is 43.5 per cent., so the comparison still holds. The hon. Gentleman is quite wrong from his point of view to describe this figure as misleading; it is merely inconvenient.