HC Deb 12 December 1952 vol 509 cc108-9W
Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Agriculture to set out in tabular form the average wages paid in the agricultural industry in 1930, 1940, 1945 and 1951;

ENGLAND AND WALES
Year June-May Average Minimum Wage* Rate per Week Estimated Farmers' Expenditure on Labour† Numbers of Workers‡
s. d. £ miillion '000 workers
1929–30 31 8 (not available) 755.5
1939–40 35 9 57 607.5
1944–45 66 130½ 755.1
1950–51 97 3 193 722.7
1951–52 105 0 202½ 704.2
(provisional)

Notes:

* Average minimum wage rate per week for ordinary adult male agricultural workers.

† Total expenditure on labour, including overtime, piecework, bonus and premium payments, perquisites valued in accordance with the Agricultural Wages Orders, and employers' contributions to insurance. Family workers not employed under a contract of service are assumed to be paid the same amounts as were received by hired workers of corresponding age and sex.

‡ Average of June numbers of total workers, including casual and part-time workers.

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