HC Deb 03 June 1921 vol 142 cc1407-8W
Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEE

asked the Minister of Labour whether, if the figures on eight articles of food alone are taken, as given in the "Labour Gazette" for May, and corrected to the prices at which those articles could be freely bought on 30th April, the average percentage increase over 1914 would be reduced to 113 per cent. instead of 132 per cent.?

Dr. MACNAMARA

From the wording of his question, my hon. and gallant Friend would appear to be basing his calculation on prices which are below the average. The figures quoted in the "Labour Gazette," on the other hand, represent average prices for the United Kingdom as a whole, both at July, 1914, and at 30th April, 1921.