§ Sir A. POWNALLasked the Minister of Labour by what percentage real wages rose or fell during the period of office of the late Government; or, if such figures are not available for this period, what are the figures for the nearest comparable period?
§ Miss BONDFIELDAs I indicated in a reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 9th July, it is difficult to deal adequately with this subject within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question. Subject, however, to the qualifications to which I then referred, the available statistics as to changes in rates of wages and cost of living indicate1116W that for the latest complete period of 12 months, that is, the 12 months ending June, 1929, the average level of real wages for a full week's work was about 6 to 7 per cent. higher than for the 12 months ending June, 1925. Owing to seasonal variations, which ordinarily raise the cost-of-living figures for November above those for June, a period of 12 months should be taken for comparison.