§ 60. Mr. PETOasked whether it is still the policy of the Government to take no more men from agriculture for the Army beyond 10,200 out of the 30,000 authorised by the War Cabinet to be taken?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. As men can be spared from, or satisfactorily replaced in, agriculture, they are being withdrawn for military service. There is no policy of limiting the number to 10,200 or any other figure below 30,000, provided that the interests of food production are safeguarded.
§ Mr. MORRELLAre the War Office still taking men from agriculture.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONYes, they are.
Mr. RUNCIMANWho is to decide what are the interests of food production—the War Office, the Board of Agriculture, or the Food Controller?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThere is constant consultation with the Board of Agriculture.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf there is any difference of opinion the matter always conies before the War Cabinet.
§ Mr. DILLONFor every man!
§ Mr. PETOWould the hon. Gentleman consider the propriety of the President of 404 the Board of Agriculture being given the power of dealing with individual men where he is convinced that it is not in the interest of food production that any particular man should be taken?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONSo far as the general principle is concerned. I have already stated the facts of the case In every individual case the military representative always consults the local agricultural representative, and I think that in any case where the President of the Board of Agriculture has recommended that no man should be called up the War Office has always agreed.
§ Mr. P. MEEHANHow many Irish applications have been dealt with by the War Office?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman cannot say without notice.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have replied to that.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELDoes the local military representative acquiesce when objection is taken to an individual engaged in agriculture being called up?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI cannot say that, but I am certainly right in saying that arrangements have been made that in every case where agriculture requires the services of a man that man is not taken.
§ Sir J. JARDINEDoes that apply to Scotland?
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs a case where a consultation does not take place subject to revision by the tribunal?