§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will compare the minimum basic wage of surface mine workers 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, in each year since 1970 up to the present time.
§ Mr. BoothFollowing is the information available:
21W
Scotland—full-time adult male general workers. Minimum weekly rates of wages, with operative dates Estimated average weekly payments in kind to hired regular full-time male adult general workers in the year ended 16th February 1970: £13.325 … … … March 1970: £1.09 15th February 1971: £15.00 … … … March 1971: £1.23 14th February 1972: £16.40 … … … March 1972: £1.18 1st April 1973: £19.50 (weekly hours reduced by 2) … … … March 1973: £1.61 28th January 1974: £21.75 … … … March 1974: £1.43 May to December—additional payments under threshold agreements rising to £4.40 a week November. 23rd December 1974: £28.00 (including consolidation of threshold payments). 5th May 1975: £31.50.