HC Deb 31 January 1956 vol 548 cc101-2W
Mr. D. Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the daily rate of wages for men and women, separately, in the banana growing industry in Jamaica.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Wage rates for banana cultivation vary considerably from district to district owing to differences in terrain and in methods of cultivation. The following are the minimum prevailing rates since January 1954: Men, 5s. 3d. per day; Women, 3s. 6d. per day. Many growers are in fact smallholders, who often combine this activity with other work.

Mr. D. Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by how many points the cost of living has increased in Jamaica at the most convenient date in 1955 by comparison with the same date in the years 1953 and 1954; and by what percentage the average daily wage of the field workers engaged in the sugar plantations, the growing of bananas and citrus fruits has increased over the same period.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The following table shows the number of points by which the cost of living had risen or fallen at three dates in 1955 compared with the corresponding dates in 1953 and 1954:

— Level of index in 1955 Comparison with 1953 Comparison with 1954
June 328 -2 +12
September 333 +9 +6
November 323 -1 -1

The average daily wage of field workers in the banana industry in 1955 had increased as follows:

— Compared with 1953 Compared with 1954
Per cent. Per cent.
Men … … 8.6 8.6
Women … … 7.7 7.7

There had been no increase in the average daily wage on the sugar plantations, but in 1955 there was a crop bonus of 12½ per cent. to employees of members of the Sugar Manufacturer Association and ½d. in the shilling to employees of members of the All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers' Association. No figures are available for citrus workers

Mr. D. Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give, at the latest available date, the number of persons, showing men and women separately, employed in the sugar growing, the banana growing and the citrus growing industries, respectively, in Jamaica.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

72,852 workers are employed on sugar estates during the cropping season and 47,310 out of cropping (latest figures). In addition a number of smallholders grow sugar. Precise figures cannot be given for bananas and citrus since these crops are largely grown on smallholdings by persons who frequently do other work and grow other crops. It is estimated that 90,000 persons are substantially employed in banana production and some 50,000 persons have some part in citrus production. No figures are available showing men and women separately.