§ 32. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Local Government Board what proportion of the persons who, according to the last Census, are engaged in agricultural pursuits in the United Kingdom are agricultural labourers; how this number compares with those so returned after the three previous decennial Censuses; and what proportion, on each occasion, of the total population were they found to represent?
The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Bums)The tabulation of the occupations of the people as returned at the Census of 1911 is not yet compleetd. The figures relating to the Censuses of 1881, 1891, and 1901 are given in the General Report on the Census of 1901 in Table 35 on page 274.
§ 49. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the low remuneration of agricultural labourers, the increase of the cost of their living during the past ten years, and the steady shrinkage of the proportion of the population engaged in agricultural industry, he will appoint a Royal Commission, on the lines of the United States Country Life Commission, to consider the best means of curing such national defects without rendering agriculture an unprofitable and neglected industry?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I will consider the suggestion of the hon. Member in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Agriculture.