Agricultural Wages Board (Hansard, 23 July 2002)

§ Hugh Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations her Department has had with the NFU over the 2002 wages award recommended by the Agricultural Wages Board. [71190]

§ Mr. Morley
[holding answer 19 July 2002]: The president of the National Farmers Union (NFU) wrote on 10 July to Lord Whitty, the Under-Secretary, expressing concern about the decisions made by the Agricultural Wages Board at is meeting on 3–4 July.
In subsequent discussions with the president of the NFU, Lord Whitty has made it clear that the Agricultural Wages Board is an independent body and it is not for Ministers to interfere in the processes of the Board.

§ Hugh Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs what consultations her Department has had with the Agricultural Wages Board about the 2002 wages award. [71188]

§ Mr. Morley
[holding answer 19 July 2002]: The Department has had no consultations with the Agricultural Wages Board about the 2002 wages award. The Agricultural Wages Board is an independent organisation and it would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene or seek to influence Board decisions.
936W

§ Hugh Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to the horticultural industry of the 2002 wages award recommended by the Agricultural Wages Board. [71186]

§ Mr Morley
[holding answer 19 July 2002]: The Department provides statistical information to the Agricultural Wages Board in advance of its negotiations each year. This includes a ready reckoner showing the cost of a 1 per cent. and a £1 per week increase in pay rates for the agricultural industry as a whole.
The proposals made by the Board for 2002 involve a number of changes to the wage structure contained in the Agricultural Wages Order. As a result, the ready reckoner cannot be relied on to provide a reliable estimate of the cost of the proposed 2002 award. However, DEFRA officials are working with the Board to cost its proposals and will share this information with the industry as soon as it is available.