§ Miss Maynardasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the average annual gross earnings among unskilled workers and forest craftsmen employed by the Forestry Commission in 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82; and whether there is any variation in different parts of the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. FennerThe average annual gross earnings for the years in question were as follows:
Financial year ended 31 March 1980 1981 1982 £ £ £ Unskilled forest workers 3,590 4,245 4,635 Forest craftsmen 4,020 4,715 5,140 There were some regional variations in earnings arising from a number of factors, such as the amount of piecework 417W that could be offered and climatic differences. The range of these variations in 1981–82 was from plus 13 per cent. to minus 7 per cent. of the average.