§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Minister of Labour what is the last official figure as to the cost of living; over what period does it extend; and will he give particulars as to how the figures are arrived at, specifying the various items and the price taken as a basis for each computation?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe latest figure is that relating to 1st June, at which date the average increase in the cost of maintaining unchanged the pre-War standard of living of working-class families, as shown by the statistics compiled by the Ministry of Labour, was 119 per cent. above the level of July, 1914. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the current issue of the "Labour Gazette" in which details are given on page 287, and a reprint of an article which appeared in1584W the Gazette for February last, containing a full account of the methods employed in making the computation.