HC Deb 22 March 1923 vol 161 cc2776-7W
Mr. MILLAR

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health the total number of farm workers in Scotland, other than farmers and crofters and their relatives, giving the number of male and female farm workers separately; the number of farmers employing hired labour; and the number of crofters and small landholders?

Captain ELLIOT:

The total number of farm workers in Scotland, as shown in the Agricultural Returns for 1922 collected by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, is 124,616, distributed as follows:

Regular workers:
(a) Males, 21 years old and over 58,601
(b) Males under 21 years old 22,923
(c) Women and girls 20,812
Casual workers:
(a) Males, 21 years old and over 7,239
(b) Males under 21 years old 3,942
(c) Women and girls 11,099
Total employed on holdings 124,616
Total males 92,705
Total females 31,911

Information is not available regarding the number of farmers employing hired labour, or the number of crofters and small landholders.

Statistics showing the number of persons returned as employed in agricultural occupations at the Census of 1921 are shown in the following table:

Males. Females. Both Sexes.
Farm Bailiffs, Grieves and Foremen 5,473 11 5,484
Shepherds 8,113 17 8,130
Agricultural Machine, Tractor-Drivers, Attendants 429 1 430
Agricultural Labourers, Farm Servants:
Distinguished as in Charge of Cattle 11,424 4,674 16,098
Distinguished as in Charge of Horses 37,945 31 37,976
Not otherwise distinguished 27,404 10,494 37,898
Total 90,788 15,228 106,016

The discrepancy in the totals is apparently due to the large number of casual workers on the land.