asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give an estimate of the aggregate additional annual cost to agriculture resulting from the increase in wages made statutory by the last decision of the Agricultural Wages Board, plus an estimate of the additional allowances made by farmers to sons, daughters and relatives who are not classified as wage earners; and if he will show to what extent such increases have been met by the increase in the agricultural grant, making due allowance for increases in poor rates.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increase of Agricultural Costs.
On a rough estimate, the aggregate additional cost to agriculture of the increases awarded to agricultural workers by the Wages Board in June, 1946, will amount to £1,000,000 in a full year. No data are available on which an estimate could be based of the additional allowances paid by farmers to relatives not classed as wage earners.
The increase in the agricultural grant for 1946 less the amount of the increase in rates on land in 1946 as compared with 1945 is £624,000.