§ Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Labour whether the item in the cost-of-living index relating to fuel and light includes electricity or is based only on gas, coal, oil, and candles?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe cost-of-living index number is designed to indicate the cost of maintaining unchanged the pre-War standard of living of working-class families. As electricity was much less important than gas as a means of light and heat in working-class dwellings before the War, it is not included in the fuel and light group of items used in the compilation of the cost-of-living index number. This group of items comprises coal, gas, oil, candles, and matches.