HC Deb 30 April 1953 vol 514 c2321
4. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that in Command Paper No. 8798, Annual Review and Fixing of Farm Prices, 1953, Appendix III, the increase in the cost of labour taken into account at the Annual Review is given as £10,970,000; and, in view of the fact that although the minimum wage for adult males was raised last August from £5 8s. 0d. to £5 13s. 0d. for a week of 47 hours, an increase of 4.63 per cent., during 1952, the decline in the number of male farm workers regularly employed fell by 5 per cent. and that there are no signs of the drain being checked, how has the estimated increase of £10,970,000 in labour costs been arrived at.

Sir T. Dugdale

The estimate of £10,970,000 was arrived at by multiplying the estimated number of workers during the year 1952–53, category by category and season by season, by the appropriate increases in costs, particularly statutory wage rates, and employers' national insurance contributions, which occurred between the Annual Reviews of 1952 and 1953 respectively.

Sir W. Smithers

In view of the fact that conditions vary very much between county and county—indeed, between farm and farm—will my right hon. Friend, if he wants to secure increased production, stop interference with the agriculture industry and allow farmers and their men freely to make their own wage agreements?

Sir T. Dugdale

That is far wider than the Question on the Order Paper, and deals with the whole procedure of the Agricultural Wages Board.