HC Deb 06 May 1915 vol 71 cc1254-5
42. Mr. PETO

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether Form Z 3 of the inquiry relating to the labour requirements of farmers has been sent to all farmers in Great Britain, or whether it relates to England only, or has only been sent to selected farmers; and whether he will make public the result of the inquiries made through this Form by his Department?

Mr. ROBERTSON

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the Form Z 8. This is a Form of inquiry regarding the state of employment, and has been circulated to employers of labour in various industries by the Labour Exchanges Department of the Board of Trade periodically since the outbreak of War. With the object of ascertaining winter conditions of employment in agriculture, the Form was sent in January to a large number of representative farmers in England and Wales, the names being supplied through the Board of Agriculture. The results of this investigation were included in a Report presented to Parliament in March (Cd. 7850), a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. The form is at the present time being circulated again to a still larger number of farmers in England and Wales, and also to representative farmers in Scotland—the names being supplied, as before, through official channels.

Mr. PETO

Will the right hon. Gentleman make known to the House the result of these further inquiries?

Mr. ROBERTSON

I will endeavour to do so.

43. Mr. WHITEHOUSE

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what steps he has taken to encourage the employment of golf caddies in agriculture during the present shortage of labour?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Harry Verney)

The Board addressed a circular in March last to some 1,100 golf clubs in England and Wales suggesting that caddies over school age should be urged to register with the Labour Exchanges for agricultural employment. Replies have been received from ninety-two clubs, twenty-six of which promise to give effect to the suggestion, three promise consideration, and the remainder either do not employ caddies at all, or, if they do, the latter are already engaged on agricultural or other work in their spare time.

Sir W. BYLES

Will the hon. Gentleman extend his efforts to golf players?

Sir H. VERNEY

I will consider that.