§ Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Agriculture the latest figures of prices of agricultural produce and the extent of any change in the last five years and any authoritative available estimate of the costs of production in the same period?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe general index number of prices of agricultural produce in 1929 was 44 per cent. above the level of the base years 1911–13, as compared with 59 per cent. in 1925. A detailed comparison of the general index and of the index for the various agricultural commodities for the past six years is 1215W given in the Ministry's Agricultural Market Report for 24th January, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. No general index figure of the costs of production is available, but the position in regard to the cost of fertilisers and feeding stuffs is dealt with in the article referred to. As regards the cost of labour, no statistics are available, but the average minimum wage of ordinary male workers in the summer of 1925, when the Orders made under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, were in full operation, was 31s. 5d. per week, as compared with 31s. 8d. per week at the present time.