§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent he estimates the recently announced 10 per cent. increase in the price of steel will increase the cost of living index.
§ Mr. BoothA 10 per cent. increase in the price of steel if passed in full to the domestic consumer would, it is estimated, eventually add about one-twentieth of one per cent. to the current level of the retail prices index.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent the cost of living index would be affected by the following proposed price rises: butter by eightpence a pound, cheese by fourpence to sixpence a pound, milk by one penny a pint, beef by threepence a pound, and bread and cereal foods such as biscuits by twopence a pound.
§ Mr. BoothIt is estimated that increases in the prices of butter by 8p per 1b, cheese by 4 to 6p per 1b. and milk by 1p per pint will add roughly444W 1/10, 1/20 and ¼ of one per cent. respectively to the current level of the "all items" retail prices index. The increases will, however, be spread over the next nine months. Estimates can only be made for closely defined price changes. An increase in the prices of all cuts of beef by 3p per 1b would add about 1/20 of 1 per cent. to the index.