§ Mr. LUNNasked the Minister of Labour the retail prices of household commodities in July, 1931, and to-day?
Mr. STANLEYAt 1st July, 1931, the average level of working-class cost of living, as indicated by the index number compiled by the Ministry of Labour, was approximately 47 per cent. above the level of July, 1914. At 1st February, 1935, the corresponding figure was 42 per cent. For particulars of the changes in the prices of the principal items of expenditure covered by the index number, I would refer the hon. Member to the issues
Year. Number of Minces which produced Coal. Average Number of Persons employed in and about Coal Minces. Output of Coal. (Tons.) Wage-earners. Clerks and Salaried Persons. GREAT BRITAIN. 1920 … … … 2,677 1,225,929 229,532,081 1929 … … … 2,273 939,367 17,307 257,906,802 1930 … … … 2,064 914,328 17,048 243,881,824 1931 … … … 1,973 851,623 16,241 219,458,951 1932 … … … 1,874 803,615 15,709 208,733,140 1933 … … … 1,841 773,640 15,451 207,112,243 1934* … … … 1,844 774,300 Not yet available 220,954,000 SOUTH WALES AND MONMOUTH. 1920 … … … 610 271,161 46,248,967 1929 … … … 504 175,749 2,566 48,149,612 1930 … … … 470 170,233 2,637 45,107,912 1931 … … … 447 155,841 2,321 37,084,852 1932 … … … 417 143,507 2,202 34,874,302 1933 … … … 409 140,749 2,151 34,354,884 1934* … … … 409 137,500 Not yet available 35,338,900 * Provisional figures