§ 41. Mr. WALTER ROCHasked the Minister of National Service whether it is his intention to call up the full quota of men allotted in the agricultural areas; and whether he will state precisely in what cases the calling-up notices will be suspended in accordance with his recent promise?
§ Mr. BECKNo; as already explained, instructions have been issued suspending as from 27th June until after the harvest the sending of notices calling up for military service agriculturists in England and Wales. General instructions have been issued that any such notice dated later than 26th June is not to be enforced.
§ Mr. ROCHWill not that arrangement work out most unfairly? Is it not a fact that in some areas the calling-up notices will be suspended under this promise, while in others they will operate completely?
§ Mr. BECKI think the President of the Board of Agriculture has already stated that this sudden suspension will work very hardly on some farmers who tried to do their duty.
§ Mr. ROCHDoes the hon. Member not think it is important to get in the harvest in all the counties and not in a favoured few?
§ Mr. BECKThis is not my responsibility. An agreement was entered into by 1382 which agriculture would spare these 30,000 young men, and I really am unable to state what the effect of the calling up of these 30,0000 young men will be. I know that very elaborate arrangements are being made for supplying additional labour for the harvest.
§ Mr. ROCHIs the hon. Gentleman not responsible for the result of the action taken by his own Ministry, and did he not consider what the result of such action would be in the middle of the harvest?
§ Mr. BECKI am certainly responsible, but this agreement was entered into at the time of the crisis in March.
§ Mr. BILLINGDoes the hon. Gentleman understand that the public of this country look to the Government Departments to work together in the interests of the country and not in the interests of the respective Departments?