HC Deb 17 March 1978 vol 946 cc395-6W
Mr. Sproat

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what has been the total cost of running the agricultural wages committees, including all main constituent costs of any sort whatsoever, such as expenditure on their own programmes, wages, rent, heating and lighting and maintenance in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the projected costs for 1978–79;

(2) what has been the total cost of running the Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales, including all main constituent costs of any sort whatsoever, such as expenditure on its own programmes, wages, rent, heating and lighting and maintenance in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the projected costs for 1978–79.

Mr. John Silkin

The costs of running the Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales and agricultural wages committees are not separately identified in the Ministry's accounts. The combined cost in the Financial Year 1976–77 was £51,717 of which it is estimated that Agricultural Wages Board expenditure was about £45,000.

The estimated total cost for the Financial Year 1978–79—excluding the costs of agricultural wages committees in Wales which from 1st April 1978 become the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales—is £33,500, of which about £27,500 relates to the expected costs of the Agricultural Wages Board.

The costs of running the Agricultural Wages Board include expenditure on advertising statutory orders made by the board. These costs were higher in 1976–77 than those forecast for 1978–79 which explains the reduction in total estimated costs between the two years. However, the reduction masks some increase due in part to a change in the arrangements for taxing travelling and subsistence expenses of members of the Agricultural Wages Board and agricultural wages committees.

No allowance has been made for expenditure in connection with these bodies on Ministry salaries and accommodation which would have been incurred whether or not they existed.