§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will compare the minimum basic wage of surface
mineworkers who have never worked underground, including their non-taxable payments in lieu, with the minimum agricultural worker's basic wage and any allowances deemed to be made.
§ Mr. BoothSince 1st March 1974 the national standard weekly rate of wages for a surface worker grade II, aged 18 years and over, in coal mining has been £32. The average value of allowances in kind for adult male manual workers in coalmining has been estimated by the National Coal Board to be £264 for week ended 13th October 1973, the latest period for which such information is available.
Since January 1974, the minimum weekly rates of wages laid down by the Agricultural Wages Boards for male manual workers, 20 years and over, other than craftsmen or specialised workers, have been £21.80 in England and Wales and £21.75 in Scotland. For hired regular whole-time male adult agricultural workers' payment in kind in the year 291W ended 31st December 1973 averaged £0.50 in England and Wales. For Scotland in the year ended 31st March 1973, the latest available period, the corresponding figure was £1.32.