§ 30. Mr. A. Lewisasked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the annual increase in the cost of living since April 1945, taking that year as representing 100.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. William Whitelaw)I will, with permission, publish in the Official Report a table covering the period 1947 to 1962. Comparable figures are not available for the period before 1947.
§ Mr. LewisCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the trend has been up or down since 1951? If it has been up, when do the Government intend to carry out their promise, made consistently since 1951, to reduce the cost of living? May we have some idea as to when that great event will take place?
§ Mr. WhitelawI can confirm that the trend has been upwards. If I were to make any other comment on what the hon. Gentleman has said, it would be that the figures show the paramount need for a successful incomes policy in this country.
§ The following is the table referred to above:
§ Movement of Retail Prices Indices 1947–1962 Annual Averages
§ (Note: The Table has been constructed by linking together the three separate retail prices index series introduced in June 1947, January 1956, and January 1962.)
| 17th June, 1947=100 | |
| 1947 (July to December) | 101.6 |
| 1948 (January to December) | 107.7 |
| 1949 (January to December) | 110.7 |
| 1950 (January to December) | 114.1 |
| 1951 (January to December) | 124.5 |
| 1952 (January to December) | 135.9 |
| 1953 (January to December) | 140.1 |
| 1954 (January to December) | 142.7 |
| 1955 (January to December) | 149.1 |
| 1956 (January to December) | 156.5 |
| 1957 (January to December) | 162.3 |
| 1958 (January to December) | 167.2 |
| 1959 (January to December) | 168.1 |
| 1960 (January to December) | 169.8 |
| 1961 (January to December) | 175.7 |
| 1962 (January to December) | 183.1 |