§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as much detailed information as may be available giving the numbers and grades of agricultural workers on 1st November 1973 whose basic rates of pay were below the national average wage of £42 per week and showing how far below the national average their wages were.
§ Mrs. FennerDetails of the minimum weekly rates of wages of various categories of agricultural workers in England and Wales, operative from 1st April 1973, are given in the Agricultural Wages Board Order No. 1 of 1973. The rates are minimum rates for a standard working week, whereas the figure of £42 per week quoted by the hon. Member—which presumably refers to an estimate of £41.90 derived from the New Earnings Survey 1973—represents the average of gross weekly earnings, including overtime pay, bonuses, etc., of men aged 21 and over in all manual and non-manual occupations in April 1973. The corresponding average for manual occupations was £38.10 per week, and that for the various grades of workers affected by the Agricultural Wages Board orders in England and Wales was £27.40. Precise information about the numbers in each grade is not available, but it is estimated that not more than 5 per cent. had earnings above £42 per week.