§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Minister of Social Security what information she has regarding the relative movements in the cost of living in Scotland as compared with the rest of the United Kingdom; and if she will take steps to formulate a separate cost of living index for Scotland, so as to ensure that social security benefits in Scotland keep pace with changes in that index.
§ Mr. HattersleyI have been asked to reply as the retail price index is the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour.
No estimate has been made of the relative movements in the cost of living in 421W Scotland, as compared with the rest of the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend has, however, asked the Cost of Living Advisory Committee to review the desirability of the calculation and publication of separate indices for regions and for special social and income groups.