§ Mr. Liddallasked the Minister of Labour what was in November, 1937, the percentage rise in the average price of coal used in the United Kingdom, as compared with November, 1933; and whether this rise is reflected in the index number of the cost of living at November, 1937, as compared with November, 1933, and to what approximate extent?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe average percentage increase between November, 1933, and November, 1937, in the retail price of coal of the qualities usually bought by working-class households, as shown by the information collected for the purpose of the official cost-of-living index number, was between 8 and 9 per cent. The effect of this increase was to raise the cost-of-living index number by approximately three-fourths of one point.