HC Deb 14 February 1933 vol 274 cc841-2W
Mr. MOLSON

asked the Secretary of State for India what was the index figure of the cost-of-living in India when the Lee Commission recommended the present salaries of the superior services, the index figure when the 10 per cent. cut was imposed, and the index figure at the present time?

Sir S. HOARE

The working class cost-of-living index figure for Bombay at the required dates was as follows (July, 1914=100):

April, 1924 150
January, 1932 110
December, 1932 (latest figure) 110

This Bombay index figure is on the whole the most satisfactory figure maintained in India, but it is unaffected by variations in the cost of imported stores and cannot be applied without qualification to the case of members of the Superior Civil Services in Bombay or elsewhere.