§ 33. Mr. WATTasked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been called to the number of farmers' sons who have reached eighteen years of age since the beginning of the War and who have, although just left school, been called ploughmen, shepherds, and horse-keepers and thus saved from military service; and will he say what action he is taking, if any, with such men?
§ Mr. BECKI have not recently received complaints on the matter raised in the hon. Member's question. By an agreement with the Board of Agriculture and the Scottish Office, a quota of 35,500 men is at present being recruited from the agricultural industry in Great Britain. The selection of men for this quota is made by the agricultural executive committees and by the Board of Agriculture in Scotland, in the first place from Grade 1 men under twenty-three, any deficit being made up by Grade 1 men under thirty-one. I have no evidence that any farmers are guilty of the unpatriotic actions suggested in the question.