§ Mr. John Ellisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural workers are receiving craft rates of pay or above and how many are not.
§ Mr. MoyleNo precise statistics are available. However, allowing for the increase which took effect on 1st April 1973, the average value of the craftsman's statutory premium last year was £1.87; and according to the Agricultural Census there were 142,000 hired, regular, whole-time, male agricultural workers in England and Wales in June 1973.
Provisional figures for the sample taken under the Department's wages and employment inquiry for 1973 indicate that about 60 per cent. of these workers were receiving basic wages at least £2 above the statutory minimum.