42 and 43. Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Minister of Labour (1) what estimate he has made of the extent to which the cost of living, as expressed in the official index, varies in Scotland compared with England and Wales;
(2) whether he will investigate the possibility of establishing a separate cost of living index for Scotland.
§ Mr. HattersleyNo estimate has been made of the extent to which the cost of living varies in Scotland compared with England and Wales. My right hon. Friend 7W is proposing, however, in accordance with a recommendation in the Report of the Estimate Committee on Government Statistical Services, to ask the Cost of Living Advisory Committee to consider again the desirability of the calculation and publication of separate indices for regions and for special social and income groups.