§ Mr. WILLIAM YOUNGasked the President of the Board of Trade what official statistics are available showing the increased cost, of living since the beginning of the War?
Mr. RUNCIMANDetails are given in each issue of the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette" of the increase in the retail prices of the principal items of food in comparison with the prices prevailing in July, 1914. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of the issues for January and February. Such information as is available in respect of other groups of expenditure would appear to indicate that the increase has not been nearly so great as in the case of food