§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the average weekly earnings for agricultural workers in 1981; and how these compare with workers in manufacturing and all industrial workers, respectively.
§ Mrs. FennerThe figures requested are as follows:
Average Gross Weekly Earnings of Full-Time Adult Male
Manual Workers: England and Wales—April 1981
Agriculture all Hired Men (a) £97.25.
Manufacturing Industries (b) £118.70.
All Index of Production Industries (b) £121.10.
(a) Figure relates to the quarter beginning April as recorded by the wages and employment inquiry and includes payments in kind.
(b) Figures are from the Department of Employment's "New Earnings Survey" and relate to one pay week in April. All index of production industries comprise manufacturing, mining and quarrying, construction, gas, electricity and water.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the average earnings for agricultural workers in each of the other member States of the European Community in 1980 and 1981.
§ Mrs. FennerThe most recent data from the statistical office of the European Communities giving average earnings on a comparable basis in other European Community member States relate to autumn 1980 and are set out in column 2 of the following table. Information is not available for Greece.
I regret that comparable information for 1981 is not available.
bone to count towards the meat content of their products and I am satisfied that this is reflected in the practices of reputable producers in this country. Proposals for revised meat products regulations were issued for comment last year. Consultation with interested parties is proceeding and I hope that new regulations can be placed before Parliament before the Summer Recess. Like the present regulations, they will not permit ground-up hair or powdered bone to count towards the meat content of meat products.