§ 61. Colonel CLIFTON BROWNasked the hon. and gallant Member for Barkston Ash, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what is the standard weekly wage for forest holders at Kielder, Northumberland?
§ Colonel ROPNER (for the FORESTRY COMMISSIONERS)The minimum weekly wage for adult male forest workers at Kielder is 35s., but whenever possible piece-work rates are paid, and last month the weekly earnings of adult male forest workers at Kielder averaged 45s.
Colonel BROWNIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this minimum wage of 35s. is payable only for less than half the year, and that with short time it means that men get less than 20s. a week on the average?
§ Colonel ROPNERMy hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension; 150 days is the minimum guaranteed period of employment for forest workers, and many of them are employed almost "whole time."
62. Colonel BROWNasked the hon. and gallant Member for Barkston Ash, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether it is proposed to take, over Bewshaugh and Catcleagh farms at Kielder this summer; and, if so, in what way do they intend to dispose of the sheep on these farms?
§ Colonel ROPNERIt is not proposed to take over Catcleagh farm next year. It is proposed to take over the remaining part of Bewshaugh farm next summer; consequently it may be necessary to dispose of part of the sheep stock by sale by auction in the local market.
Colonel BROWNIs it not possible to regulate those sales more carefully, so that there is more orderly marketing otherwise it causes loss to all the farmers round?
§ Colonel ROPNERI do not think that that is the experience of the Forestry Commission, which has received no complaints in this respect.
63. Colonel BROWNasked the hon. and gallant Member for Barkston Ash, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he can give an estimate of the capital cost of starting one forest holding, including the cost of the cottage and the cost of acquiring the necessary amount of both plantable and unplantable land?
§ Colonel ROPNERThe average capital cost of a forest worker's holding including the land attached to it is £497. The cost of starting forest workers' holdings cannot be related to the cost of plantable and unplantable land.