§ 27. Mr. FALCONERasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware of the scarcity of ploughmen in Scotland, and that for every pair of horses kept idle in consequence 60 or 70 acres will be thrown out of its proper course of cultivation; and whether he can now take steps to secure the release of a sufficient number of ploughmen to enable the land to be cultivated?
§ The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)I am aware that there is a scarcity of skilled ploughmen in Scotland. I am informed that the number of men in the agricultural companies of the labour battalions, for employment on farms in Scotland, is at present 7,700. Of 2,500 soldier ploughmen in Category "A" who by arrangement with the War Office were to be released for two months for autumn ploughing, 1,400 had been made available up to the 9th instant. In conjunction with the Ministry of Labour the Board of Agriculture for Scotland is obtaining the names of a number of skilled men for whom vacancies exist and the Board will make every effort to secure their release in advance of general demobilisation.