HC Deb 22 March 1974 vol 870 cc177-8W
Mr. Shersby

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial assistance is given by their respective Governments to the glasshouse growers in France, Holland and Germany.

CRAFT CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY AGRICULTURAL WAGES COMMITTEES IN ENGLAND AND WALES
1 2 3
Sector Certificates issued up to 28th February 1974 (provisional)* Column 2 as proportion of full time agricultural workers
Number Per cent.
Milk production 6,417 4.1
Beef production 4,822 3.1
Sheep production 2,371 1.5
Pig production 2,557 1.6
Poultry production 896 0.6
Machinery operation and maintenance 25,231 16.0
Fruit production 1,007 0.6
Glasshouse crops production 833 0.6
Bulb and corn production 94 0.1
Plant nursery practice 440 0.3
Outdoor vegetable production 443 0.7
* At 28th February 1974 about 37,000 workers in England and Wales had gained craft certificates, some of them having qualified in more than one craft.
† Based on the 157,637 regular whole-time hired workers in England and Wales at June 1973.

Mr. John Ellis

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural workers have been classified as craftsmen by employers.

Mr. Buchan

Up to 28th February 1974 county agricultural wages committees in England and Wales had furnished about 37,000 agricultural workers with craft certificates on the basis of employers' declarations.

Mr. John Ellis

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural workers have been refused classification by their employers as craftsmen.

Mr. Buchan

Departmental statistics on this are confined to situations where the agricultural worker concerned has utilised the agricultural wages committee's conciliation facilities. Up to 28th February 1974 there had been 55 such cases.

Mr. Buchan

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 21st March to the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. Spicer).