HC Deb 31 March 1953 vol 513 cc1024-6
47. Miss Herbison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has noted that increased labour costs in agriculture were taken into account at the Annual Review and fixing of farm prices as set out in Command Paper No. 8798; that producers in Scotland have been awarded increased prices to meet these costs; that farm workers in Scotland have not been awarded an increase in wages and that therefore the increased costs have not been incurred; and what action he is taking to ensure that farm workers in Scotland will receive minimum wages comparable with those received in England and Wales.

Mr. Snadden

My right hon. Friend has noted the situation to which the hon. Lady draws attention. But he has no power to intervene in decisions of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.

Miss Herbison

Since the Scottish farmers have been given an increase in prices under the annual review, and since the increase took into account a rise in the wages of agricultural workers, surely the Secretary of State ought not to give a gift of the taxpayers' money to Scottish farmers? Surely the Secretary of State has the right to say to the Scottish farmers, "Wages have not been increased and, therefore, the prices which you are to be paid will be smaller"?

Mr. Snadden

It is true that the aggregate increase in labour costs taken into account at the Annual Price Review reflected mainly the rise in wage rates in England and Wales, but so long as we have a United Kingdom price structure and two separate wages boards such a position is inevitable. Of course, the reverse could have happened; wages might have risen in Scotland.

Mr. Patrick Maitland

Will my hon. Friend at the same time bear in mind the delicate position of Clyde Valley horticulturists who have been dealt a body blow by the rise in the price of coal?

Mr. Woodburn

Can the hon. Gentleman assure the House that the farmers in Scotland will not put this money in their own pockets? If they have been given money to compensate for a rise in wages, surely common decency demands that they should pay the wages? Is he suggesting that the agricultural wages board would prevent the farmers giving the increase for which they have received the money?

Mr. Snadden

I would remind the right hon. Gentleman that the intricate problem arising out of the fact that there are two separate wages boards was presented to his own Administration but nothing was done about it. However, we have received representations from the farm servants' union recently about this and I am able to say that we are now re-examining the position.

Mr. Woodburn

Surely the point is not that there is a separate agricultural wages structure; the point is that there is nothing to prevent the farmers paying this money whether the agricultural wages board suggests that it should be paid or not.

Mr. N. Macpherson

Is it not a fact that the vast majority of agricultural workers are paid higher wages than the minimum rates?

Mr. Snadden

It is true that the wages in England are struck on a different basis from those in Scotland and that in Scotland 80 per cent. of our agricultural workers are in the specialist classes and are receiving wages certainly not less than those in England and Wales.

Miss Herbison

Surely it would not be impossible for the Secretary of State for Scotland to decide what proportion of the increase ought to go on wages and, having made that decision, could he not say to the Scottish farmers, "We are withdrawing that proportion from the money which you will receive"? Is it not also the case that when considering wages one has to have regard to 100 per cent. of the agricultural workers and not merely a proportion of them?

Mr. Snadden

Any interference which would change the wage-fixing methods of today would require legislation. However, I have said that the representations recently made by the farm servants' union about this are now being re-examined by the Government.

Sir W. Darling

Has my hon. Friend received any representations from farm workers to the effect that they have not received an increase in wages? It is certainly within the knowledge of some of us that voluntary increases have been made in response to the rise in the price level.

Mr. T. Fraser

Will the Joint Undersecretary assure us that the Secretary of State will seriously consider introducing amending legislation to provide for one Wages Board for Great Britain? Is he aware that this difficult situation did not arise during the period of the Labour Government? Does he appreciate that, generally speaking, horticultural workers receive the minimum wage? Does he also appreciate that forestry workers employed by the Forestry Commission receive the minimum wages, which means that Forestry Commission workers in Scotland receive 5s. a week less than do their colleagues in England and Wales who are working for the same employers?

Mr. Snadden

I have already said that we will re-examine the position in the light of representations recently made to us. It is a fact that similar representations were made to the previous Administration.

Miss Herbison

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the replies which we have received, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.