§ 14. Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of prosecutions under the Agricultural Wages Act for under-payment of agreed county rates to agricultural workers during the years 1925, 1926, and 1927, and to 30th June 1928, respectively; and the aggregate amount of such under-payments in each year, with the amount of fines imposed during the same periods?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)With the hon. Members permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the particulars desired.
§ Mr. GUINNESSWe have inspectors who look into any suspected cases and who also make test inspections.
§ Following is the statement:
§ The following statement gives particulars of PROSECUTIONS under the AGRICULTURAL WAGES (REGULATION) ACT, 1924, for failure to pay wages at not less than the minimum rates.
| Year. | No. of Prosecutions. | Arrears of wages ordered by the Courts. | Fines. |
| £ | £ | ||
| 1925 | 32 | 282 | 106 |
| 1926 | 87 | 1,625 | 347 |
| 1927 | 94 | 2,288 | 271 |
| 1928 (first six months) | 46 | 841 | 129 |