§ Mr Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment what effect a rise of 8p in the pound in the price of manufactured foods would have on the cost of living and on the official price index, respectively.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkA rise of 8p in the pound in the price of food items which are mainly manufactured in the
146Wboth in the national currency of the country concerned and in sterling valued at the latest date for which this information is available.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkThe following table gives the available information. Comparisons of this type involve very considerable uncertainties. In particular, these arise from variation in systems of remuneration and taxation in the different countries, from the different importance of the individual goods in the national patterns of consumption—which means that general conclusions about the comparative costs of living cannot be drawn from this information—and from differences in quality and type in the goods listed. Detailed definitions are not available.
United Kingdom would increase the retail prices index by about 0.8 per cent.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give an estimate of the rise in the cost of living and of the index figure of the introduction of a 5p postal charge.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkThe introduction of a 5p postal charge would increase the retail prices index by about 0.1 per cent.