§ 83. Mr. William Priceasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the agricultural workers' pay claim 45W in relation to the prices and incomes policy.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesThe Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales has made an order increasing the statutory minimum rate of pay for an adult male worker by 17s. to £12 8s. 0d. for a standard 44 hour week. The Order is due to come into operation on 3rd February.
The Government recognise that agricultural workers are low paid in comparison with most other workers and that productivity in agriculture has increased. But as the award does not fall within the 3½ per cent. ceiling for pay increases.
acres 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 Land under horticultural crops … 631,000 620,000 607,000 637,000 662,000 Under glass. … 3,700 3,600 3,900* 3,900* 4,100* * Including about 200 acres of glass on holdings of one acre or less, but with 1,000 sq. ft. or more of glass used commercially. No returns were made by such holdings in 1964 and 1965.