Oral Answers to Questions — Interim Index of Retail Prices

– in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 21 Ebrill 1955.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Norman Dodds Mr Norman Dodds , Dartford 12:00, 21 Ebrill 1955

asked the Minister of Labour to state the Interim Index of Retail Prices for March, 1955; and how this compares with March, 1952, and March, 1954.

Photo of Sir Walter Monckton Sir Walter Monckton , Bristol West

The Index figure at 15th March, 1955, was 146, compared with 133 in March, 1952, and 141 in March, 1954.

Photo of Mr Norman Dodds Mr Norman Dodds , Dartford

Is this not the highest point which the cost-of-living index has ever reached? What justification is there for that, nearly four years after a pledge was made to reduce the cost of living? Further, is not the Minister aware of the seriousness of the situation when the Budget completely fails to reduce the cost of living for many millions of people in the lower income groups?

Photo of Sir Walter Monckton Sir Walter Monckton , Bristol West

I expect that we shall have the opportunity of hearing those observations again, but they can hardly be directed to the Minister of Labour in relation to the Budget, which is a matter for which I am not responsible. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will share with me a degree of modified satisfaction that the figure of 146, though it is the highest, is the same as that for January and February last.