HC Deb 06 July 1926 vol 197 cc1882-3
65. Mr. KELLY

asked the Minister of Labour how many wage-earners there are in Great Britain; how many agricultural workers are at present employed; and how many workers normally engaged on the land are at present employed?

Mr. BETTERTON

The total number of wage-earners in Great Britain, as nearly as I can estimate, is between 16,000,000 and 17,000,000. As regards the second and third parts of the question, the only figure I can give is that for the number of workers employed on agricultural holdings of more than one acre on 4th June, 1925, namely, 925,400. According to my information, there is very little unemployment at present among regular agicultual workers.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Does the figure of 925,400 include the farmers on small and larger holdings?

Mr. BETTERTON

No, Sir; it includes persons who come within the category of agricultural workers in relation to wage-earning.