Tied Cottages (Hansard, 20 November 1973)

§ Mr. Bishop
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farm workers were evicted from tied cottages in each of the past three years.

§ Mrs. Fenner
There are no official statistics of evictions but the hon. Member may be able to get some general information on the subject from the journal of the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers.

§ Mr. Bishop
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about former tied

FATAL ACCIDENTS TO CHILDREN ON FARMS 1972^*

Causes of fatality Number Children concerned Ages

Drowning … … … … … 5 2 years (3); 3 years (2)

Falling from field machines … … 5 3 years (1); 6 years (1); 7 years (1); 12 years (1); 13 years (1)

Run over by tractors … … … 3 2 years (2); 3 years (1)

Overturning tractors … … … 2 10 years (1); 13 years (1)

Burns … … … … … … 2 4 years (1); 6 years (1)

Knocked down by fork lift truck … … 1 2 years

Asphyxiated in stored grain … … 1 14 years

^* The basis for compiling departmental accident statistics is set out in the Annual Report rendered to Parliament.

§ Mr. Bishop
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to improve safety on farms and encourage compliance with safety regulations.

§ Mrs. Fenner
I would refer to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr) on 15th February 1973.—[Vol. 850, c. 1432.] Since then the Government have announced their proposals for implementing the Robens Committee's Report on Safety and Health at Work; and my Department is already engaged in consultations with all interests concerned to ensure fully effective application of these proposals to agriculture.

§ Mr. Bishop
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will investigate from the safety point of view
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cottages being offered for sale after the eviction of the farm tenants.

§ Mrs. Fenner
No such case has been brought to my notice. The hon. Member will be aware that under Section 99 of the Agriculture Act 1970 an owner may be liable to pay compensation where it appears to the court that he has obtained possession through the court of a tied cottage through misrepresentation or concealment of material facts.

FATAL ACCIDENTS TO CHILDREN ON FARMS 1972^*
Causes of fatality	Number	Children concerned Ages
Drowning	…	…	…	…	…	5	2 years (3); 3 years (2)
Falling from field machines	…	…	5	3 years (1); 6 years (1); 7 years (1); 12 years (1); 13 years (1)
Run over by tractors	…	…	…	3	2 years (2); 3 years (1)
Overturning tractors	…	…	…	2	10 years (1); 13 years (1)
Burns	…	…	…	…	…	…	2	4 years (1); 6 years (1)
Knocked down by fork lift truck	…	…	1	2 years
Asphyxiated in stored grain	…	…	1	14 years
^* The basis for compiling departmental accident statistics is set out in the Annual Report rendered to Parliament.