§ 58. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange for a comparison to be made between the cost of living in the islands of Scotland and in London.
§ Mr. BoothBecause of the considerable differences in the patterns of consumption it would be difficult and very costly to prepare meaningful comparisons between the cost of living in the islands of Scotland and that in London. However, as I said in my replies to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Taylor) or 11th June and my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Edge) on 11th July my right hon. Friend is considering the possibility of producing a retail price index for Scotland as a whole.