HC Deb 22 February 1921 vol 138 cc779-80W
Sir H. NORMAN

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the many criticisms passed upon the figures issued periodically from his Department purporting to show the cost of living, and of the far-reaching results dependent upon the acceptance of these figures, he will state fully the methods of investigation and calculation employed in arriving at these figures?

Sir M. BARLOW

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend an extract from the "Labour Gazette" for March, 1920, which gives a very detailed account of the methods of investigation and calculation employed in preparing the statistics relating to the changes in the cost of living. In view of the interest attaching to these statistics, I have arranged that this account shall be reprinted in this month's issue of the "Labour Gazette," which is now being printed off.