§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which ILO convention is the basis for the establishment of the agricultural wages boards; when it expires; and if he will set out the conditions which govern the notice required to depart from the provisions of the convfention.
§ Mr. CurryThe United Kingdom is a signatory to two Conventions of the International Labour Organisation —(ILO)—the terms of which are satisfied by the existence of the Agricultural Wages Board—AWB. The ILO conventions do not give the AWB its powers which are provided under the provisions of the Agricultural Wages Act 1948. ILO convention 99 requires signatories to create or maintain adequate machinery whereby minimum rates of wages can be fixed for agricultural workers. This convention may be denounced only within a 12-month period of 'window' which occurs every 10 years. The next such window is open from 23 August 1993 to 22 August 1994. Convention 101 requires signatories to ensure workers employed in agriculture are granted annual holiday with pay. The window for denunciation for this convention is next open from 24 July 1994 to 23 July 1995. In both cases, ILO rules lay down that a denunciation would not take effect until one year after its registration with the ILO.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current and future role of the Agricultural Wages Board, with particular reference to its minimum wage setting functions.
§ Mr. CurryThe Agricultural Wages Board is set up under the provisions of the Agricultural Wages Act 194826W and is responsible for prescribing the minimum rates of pay and conditions of service within the agriculture industry. As with all similar bodies, the role of the AWB is reviewed from time to time. There are presently no plans to alter the status of the board or its minimum wage fixing responsibilities.