Mr. SIMONasked the Minister of Labour the latest estimate of the increase in money wages and in real wages per adult man earned in 1929 as compared with 1913?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIt is estimated, on the basis of such information as is available, that weekly full-time rates of wages for similar classes of workers were between 70 and 75 per cent. higher on average, in 1929, than in July, 1914. The official cost-of-living index number, which 925W indicates the average increase in the cost of maintaining unchanged the pre-War standard of living of working-class families, showed an average increase of 64 per cent. over the same period. On this basis it would appear that, on average, real wages far a full week were about 5 per cent. higher in 1929 than in July, 1914. Separate figures for adult men are not available. The working week in 1929 was shorter than in 1914. Comparable information is not available as to actual earnings (as distinct from rates of wages for similar classes of workers) in 1913 or 1914 and 1929.