HC Deb 12 May 1981 vol 4 cc235-7W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give the cost of living figures for 4 May 1979 and 4 May 1981.

Mr. Waddington

Following is the nearest available information:

Mr. Waddington

Wages inspectors are constantly engaged in examining wages at establishments covered by wages councils throughout Great Britain. Information is not available in the precise form requested. However, the following statistics are available for each wages council relating to inspections completed by visit in Great Britain in 1980:

General Index of Retail Prices
Date All Items Index January 1974=100
15 May 1979 215.9
17 March 1981 284.0

The index figure for May 1981 will be published on 19 June.