Mr. HOPE SIMPSONasked the Minister of Agriculture what was the average minimum wage for agricultural workers in England and Wales in the month of November, 1922; what was the average wage for such workers in the year 1914; and how the percentage increase of the former compares with the percentage increase in the cost of living in November, 1922, compared with the cost of living in 1914?
§ Sir R. SANDERSFrom such information as is at the disposal of my Department it is estimated that the average minimum cash wage of ordinary agricultural labourers in England and Wales in November, 1922, was 28s. as compared with a wage of 18s. (including allowances) in 1914, an increase of 65 per cent. The cost of living figures estimated by the Ministry of Labour showed an increase on the 1st November of 80 per cent, above the 1914 level.