HC Deb 12 June 2000 vol 351 cc456-7W
Mr. Sawford

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce the results of the consultation on the future of the agricultural wages boards. [125170]

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Government's consultation on the future of the agricultural wages boards. [125398]

Ms Quin

The consultation period closed on 31 March and some 250 comments have been received. Independent research was also commissioned to complement the consultation exercise and the results are due later this month. We will announce the outcome of the review as soon as possible when we have considered all the responses and issues raised.

Mr. Pickthall

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the present proportion of farm costs which are represented by labour costs. [125196]

Ms Quin

In 1998–99, labour costs are estimated to have represented an average of 16.2 per cent. of the total farm costs of full-time farm business in England. These labour costs include an imputed estimate of the wholly or mainly unpaid labour carried out on the farm, principally by farmers, spouses and other family workers. Estimates for 1999–2000 will be published early in 2001.

Mr. Pickthall

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on rates of pay in the horticulture industry. [125355]

Ms Quin

Minimum rates of pay for the horticulture industry are set by the Agricultural Wages Board, which is an independent body. The most recent Agricultural Wages Order came into force on 1 June 2000.

Mr. Pickthall

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the role played by Agricultural Wages Board rates of pay in the rural economy. [125197]

Ms Quin

As part of the quinquennial review of the Agricultural Wages Board, announced in December 1999, independent research is being undertaken to evaluate the impact of the provisions in the Agricultural Wages Order. The results will be made available when the outcome of the review is published.

Mr. Pickthall

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of Agricultural Wages Board rates of pay on rural pay levels generally. [125199]

Ms Quin

We have made no special assessment of the effect of the Agricultural Wages Board on rural rates of pay in general. Over the years some rural employers have based the pay for non-agricultural workers on the rates set by the Agricultural Wages Board.