§ 33. Mr. John Morganasked the Minister of Agriculture the approximate number of agricultural workers in the county area of Holland, in Lincolnshire, who are now in receipt of wages of less than £2 a week throughout the year; and what would be the approximate cost involved in raising the wages of these men to £2 a week?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithMy Department does not possess sufficient data to make a reliable estimate of the number of workers concerned or consequently of the cost of raising their wages, and I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question which he put on 26th June.
§ Mr. MorganHow does the Minister arrive at the figure he has given in this House showing that agricultural wages have been raised by 14 per cent. over the last few years?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThat is the general rise in wages.
§ Mr. MorganHow does the Minister arrive at that figure? If he cannot give the figure with regard to the districts, how can he give it for the whole country?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithIf we take the country as a whole, we know that the minimum rate of wages has gone up from a certain figure to a higher figure, but this question deals with special classes of agricultural workers.
§ Mr. MorganIs it not the fact that 20 per cent. of the men have gone off the land, and that, therefore, wages which should have increased have gone down in the last few years?