§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give detailed reasons why, when the cost of living between October 1964 and May 1969 rose by 21.9 per cent., food by 21.9 per cent., alcoholic drink by 23.2 per cent., tobacco by 23.6 per cent. and miscellaneous goods by 25.1 per cent., services rose by 30.8 per cent.
Mr. TavemeThe prices of services have tended to rise more than other retail prices because costs of services are affected to a greater extent than goods by increases in labour costs, and there is in general less scope for offsetting such increases by improvements in productivity.