§ Mr. HANCOCKasked the President of the Board of Trade when miners' wages have been advanced since 4th August, 1914; what was the amount of each advance; and what increase has taken place in the cost of living during that period?
§ Sir R. HORNEUp to September, 1917, the dates and amounts of increases in the wages of colliery workers varied in the different districts. The general result of these increases was to advance the average wage of adult male colliery workers by about 50 per cent. above the 619W pre-War level. Since that time the following general increases have been given:
17th September, 1917.—1s. 6d. a shift (" War wage ").
1st June, 1918.—1s. 6d. a shift (" War wage ").
9th January, 1919.—2s. a shift ("Sankey wage ").
12th March, 1920.—20 per cent. on gross earnings, exclusive of "War wage" and "Sankey wage," with a minimum of 2s. a shift.
As a result, the average wage of adult male colliery workers is now 157 per cent. above the pre-War level. The percentage increase in the general cost of living over the same period is estimated by the Ministry of Labour to be 152. But this figure is based on working-class family expenditure on food, rent, clothing, fuel, etc., according to their relative importance before the War, and it must be remembered that the great majority of coal miners get their household coal either free or at privileged prices.