§ Mr. ROWNTREEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture when the latest 691W Return prior to the War was issued showing the average wages paid to agricultural labourers in various counties, and where it is to be found; and whether he can give particulars of any recent Return which shows the wages now being paid?
§ Mr. G. ROBERTSMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The latest Return showing the average earnings of agricultural labourers in various counties relates to the year 1907, and forms the fifth volume of the "Report of an Inquiry by the; Board of Trade into the Earnings and Hours of Workpeople of the United Kingdom." A similar inquiry as to earnings in 1914 was about to be made when the War broke out and the work had to be suspended. In addition to such inquiries as to earnings a considerable amount of information as to current cash rates of wages is obtained by the Department of Labour Statistics, and a summary will shortly be published in the "Labour Gazette," giving the latest available figures, with the necessary qualifications.