§ 5 and 6. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Labour (1) if he is aware that the method of calculation and construction of the Index of Retail Prices does not assess changes in weight of packet foods, tinned milk, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, sweets, jams, and marmalade; and, as weight changes can, and do, materially affect the cost-of-living index figure, if he will take steps to have weight fluctuations calculated;
(2) if he is aware that the Report, Method of Construction and Calculation of the Index of Retail Prices, states that prices of household soap, soap powder, detergents, polishes, cleaning powders, and matches, are obtained by postal inquiry; if he is aware that no allowance is made for weight fluctuations of these 70W materials or reductions in contents of boxes or stationery in packets and if he will take such factors into account so as to obtain a more accurate estimate of the price index to be achieved.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodFluctuations in the weight or contents of packages are already taken into account in calculating the Index of Retail Prices.