§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the estimated increase in the cost of living as compared with June, 1914, in Ireland, and indicate how this estimate compares with the similar one in Great Britain?
§ Mr. PARKERI have been asked to answer this question. The average increase between July, 1914, and March, 1920, in the cost of maintaining the pre-War standard of living of the working classes in the United Kingdom was approximately 130 per cent. For some items (e.g., beef and mutton) the average increase was relatively greater in Ireland than in Great Britain, while for others (e.g., potatoes and eggs) it was less. The information available as to the differences in the pre-War standard of living in Great Britain and Ireland respectively is not sufficient to provide a basis for computing separate averages for I all items of expenditure taken together, but it appears probable that if such a calculation could be made, the results would not differ very materially in the two cases.