§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the increase which has taken place in the wages earned by the miners in the United -Kingdom during the past; twenty years; and what the purchasing power of the shilling was twenty years ago as compared with to-day?
Mr. BUXTONI regret that at the last Census of Wages the Board of Trade were not successful in obtaining a sufficient number of returns showing the actual2528W earnings of coal miners to enable me to make the desired comparison. The net percentage advance on the standard piece prices of coal hewers between 1892 and 1912 was about 19 per cent., but it is doubtful if the average earnings have risen in the same proportion. As regards the latter part of my hon. Friend's question, he is probably now aware that a Report on Cost of Living in the -United Kingdom was issued last night, from which he will be able to obtain information throwing light on recent changes in the cost of articles of workmen's consumption. A comparison of the retail prices of twenty-three articles of food shows a rise of 9 per cent. as between 1892 and 1912.