HC Deb 05 November 1929 vol 231 c806
40. Mr. LAWTHER

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the wages paid to transferred miners on the Hamsterley Grove Estate, Durham; the terms upon which they have been granted small holdings; and the deductions made for rents?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. W. R. Smith)

The wages paid to the six transferred ex-miners employed as forest workers on the Grove Estate, Hamsterley, Durham, average 62s. per fortnight. Seven members of the families of three of these men are also employed. One hag a house only for which the rent is 6s. 2d. per fortnight. The others have houses and holdings varying in extent from 9½ acres to 17¾. The rents at present payable for the five holdings vary from 9s. to 14s. 10d. per fortnight, the average being 11s. 6d.

Mr. LAWTHER

Are the Commissioners prepared to reconsider the whole question of wages of these transferred miners?

Mr. SMITH

The whole question of the wages of these workers is now under consideration.