§ 88. Mr. G. LAMBERTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture how many men have been withdrawn since August, 1914, from agriculture for Army, munition, or other war purposes?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Richard Winfrey)There are no official figures distinguishing the employments into which agricultural labourers have passed, but the number of those lost to Agriculture are roughly estimated at between 300,000 and 350,000.
§ 89. Mr. LAMBERTasked whether the recent agreement regarding the recruitment of agricultural labour permits the tribunals to substitute labour less, rather than more, skilled for the present skilled agricultural worker?
§ Sir R. WINFREYAssuming that the recent agreement mentioned in the question refers to the arrangements that no more men are to be taken from agriculture without the consent of the war executive committees of the counties, the answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. LAMBERTDoes that mean that without the consent of the war agricultural committees substitutes cannot be sent in place of skilled workers?
§ Sir R. WINFREYYes.