HC Deb 08 April 1963 vol 675 c105W
86. Mr. Hilton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the average weekly value of the payments in kind received by adult male farm workers for the year ended September, 1962; what was the percentage of their total earnings represented by their payments in kind; what was the percentage of those workers who received payments in kind, such as cottages, potatoes and board and lodging; and what was the percentage of farm workers not in receipt of any premium above the minimum wage.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

In the year ended 30th September, 1962, the average value of payments in kind received by adult male farmworkers in England and Wales was 6s. 6d. a week. This represents 2½9 per cent. of their average weekly earnings. 48 per cent. of these workers received payment in the form of cottages, 24 per cent. in the form of milk, 4 per cent. in the form of board and lodgings, 6 per cent. as potatoes and 5 per cent. in various other ways. Some workers, of course, received more than one type of payment in kind. In this period 18 per cent. of the adult male workers did not receive a premium above the minimum wage rates.