§ Captain W. BENNasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the index figure of the cost of living on the 6th December, 1919; and what is the figure at the present time?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have been asked to reply to this question. The statistics prepared by the Ministry of Labour, which show the average increase in the cost of maintaining unchanged the pre-War standard of living of the working-classes, relate to the first day of each month. At 1st December, 1919, the index figures for all items included in the statistics (food, rent, clothing, fuel and light), and miscellaneous items showed an increase of 125 per cent. over the level of July, 1914. At 1st May, 1920, the increase was 141 per cent. The figure for 1st June is not yet available, but it will certainly be646W higher (probably little short of 150 per cent.) owing to the recent increase in the prices of coal and sugar.