§ 24. Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration his Department has given to the publication of a separate cost of living index for the low-paid; and whether he will now publish such an index.
§ Mr. BoothDetailed consideration was given to the question of retail prices indices for special social or income groups by the Cost of Living Advisory Committee in its report of July 1968. The committee recommended the introduction of the two pensioner indices which my Department publishes but was not in favour of indices for other social groups. In particular it did not consider that there was a strong case at that time for compiling a special index for low-income households with children.
I am satisfied that the General Index of Retail Prices gives an adequate indication of impact of price changes as they affect most households including the low paid and have no plans to publish special indices for that group. The situation will nevertheless be kept under review.