asked the Minister of Labour the official figures for the cost of food and for the cost of living for the second week in April for the years, 1922, 1924, and 1929, respectively?

The Ministry of Labour cost-of-living index number statistics, which relate to the beginning of each month, show that at the beginning of April, 1922, the level of retail prices of food was approximately 73 per cent. above that of July, 1914, the corresponding percentage for all the items included in the statistics being 82. For the beginning of April, 1924, the figures were 67 and 73, respectively, and for the beginning of the present month they are 50 and 62, respectively.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that during 1922 wages fell something like £210,000,000?

I am quite well aware of the facts that are obtainable as regards wage rates, and, taking the rate of wages and the cost of living together, there has been an increase of 8 per cent. since 1924.

Go and ask any housewife; she will tell you.