§ Mr. Bishopasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of regular whole-time workers in agriculture for each year since 1960, and the annual percentage variation; and what is the farm labour force as a percentage of the national labour force.
384W
§ Mrs. FennerIn 1972, and including self-employed persons in either case, the farm labour force represented about 2.9 per cent. of the United Kingdom civil employment. The following are the further statistics requested:
REGULAR WHOLE-TIME WORKERS IN AGRICULTURE AT JUNE (UNITED KINGDOM) Number ('000) Percentage reduction since previous year 1960 505 — 1961 480 4.9 1962 460 4.2 1963 444 3.5 1964 414 6.8 1965 388 6.3 1966 364 6.2 1967 345 5.2 1968 324 6.1 1969 308 4.9 1970 269* Not applicable* 1971 262* 2.6 1972 259* 1.1 1973 253* 2.3 * Numbers for 1970 onwards are not directly comparable with earlier years because they: (a) include managerial and clerical workers previously excluded; (b) are based upon a specific definition of "whole time" viz. 40 hours or more per week; and (c) exclude junior partners previously reckoned as regular whole time male workers (they are now returned under farmers, partners and directors).
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the percentage of gross national product produced by agricultural workers; and what action he is taking to encourage more workers to enter agriculture and to remain in it.
§ Mrs. FennerAgriculture accounted for 2.8 per cent. of the gross national product in 1972. It would be unrealistic to attempt to apportion this between the industry's employers, self-employed and employees. It is for the industry to recruit and retain the manpower that it needs. My Department is giving all possible assistance notably by directly administering the agricultural sector of the Training Opportunities Scheme; by servicing the Agricultural Wages Board and its county committees, especially in relation to the Wages Structure Scheme; by furthering the work in the Agricultural Training Board which will shortly become the responsibility of Agricultural Ministers; and—as will be apparent from the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member 385W for Norfolk, North (Mr. Ralph Howell) on 19th October—by supporting the service which the National Proficiency Tests Council renders to the industry as a basis for payment of the statutory premium rate for craftsmen.—[Vol. 861, c. 318–19.]