§ Sir Richard Glynasked the Minister of Labour what was the percentage increase in the cost of living of wage earners and of small and medium salary earners between April, 1953, and the latest convenient date; what were the corresponding increases between April, 1953, and April, 1955, April, 1957, April, 166W 1959, April, 1961, and April, 1963;and what was the average industrial wage on each of these dates.
§ Mr. GodberThe percentage increase in the retail prices index between April, 1953, and December, 1963, the latest date for which the index has been calculated, and between April, 1953, and April in each of the years, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961 and 1963 are given below. Also shown below are figures of average weekly earnings of men, and women, manual workers in April in each of the years 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961 and 1963 and in October, 1963, the latest date for which this information is available.
Date Average Weekly Earnings Percentage increase in retail prices index Men (21 and over) Women, working full-time (18 and over) s. d. s. d. April, 1953 185 11 100 2 — April, 1955 217 5 112 6 4 April, 1957 241 6 126 0 14 April, 1959 262 11 137 1 19 April, 1961 301 4 152 7 23 April, 1963 323 1 163 9 33 October, 1963 334 11* 168 3* 32 December, 1963 N.A. N.A. 33 *Provisional.