§ Mr. SWANasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a recent application was made by the Employment Committee of the Employment Exchange, Ilford, to be supplied with a copy of the cost of living figures supplied by the local Exchange, for circulation among its members, and that their request was refused by the Department; and, seeing that as a result of this refusal the members are of the opinion that the results arrived at by methods of secrecy have no value, will he look into this matter?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI am aware of the application referred to. I am afraid that disclosure of the particulars relating to the retail prices of food, which are collected by the officers of the Employment Exchanges, might give rise to misleading comparisons between the prices charged in different districts and at different shops within the same district—comparisons for which the returns are not designed, and cannot properly be used. As at present advised, therefore, we do not think it is desirable that the existing practice should be altered. The methods by which the Monthly Index figure is reached are set out fully in the "Labour Gazette" of February, 1921, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.