§ 30. Mr. A. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour what number of German prisoners are now employed in the industries of this country; whether he will state the number employed in each industry; and what steps are being taken to supersede such labour by British labour?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe number of prisoners of war employed in this country 1796 on 1st July was 31,595. Of this number 22,146 were engaged upon agricultural work, 8,821 on trench filling and other military work for the War Office, and 628 were in employment with the Buxton lime firms by agreement with the trade union concerned. In every case in which civilian labour becomes available in the district in which the prisoners are working, the men are automatically withdrawn and superseded by civilian labour, so that the number of prisoners employed is being continually diminished.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLWhen does the right hon. Gentleman propose to send all these men back to Germany?
§ Sir R. HORNEWe propose to send them back as rapidly as possible. As nay hon. Friend realises, there is a considerable amount of skilled agricultural work now being performed by these prisoners, and the Board of Agriculture inform me that they are unable to dispense them.
Lieut.-Colonel THORNEIf Peace is ratified to-day will he advise the Government to return all the German prisoners at once?
§ Sir R. HORNEWhen Peace is ratified I think certain operations take place automatically in connection with that matter.
§ Mr. SHORTAre there not a number of English agricultural labourers in this country at present unemployed?
§ Sir R. HORNEThere are upon the books of the Exchanges a certain number of men who have described themselves as agricultural labourers who, on a scrutiny, are not always found to be skilled in agricultural operations, and in many cases the farmers reject the men who describe themselves in this way. In other cases where suitable men are available the lack of housing accommodation creates a very great difficulty, but we endeavour in every instance to employ British labour where we can.
§ Mr. SPENCERAre we to take it that all the German prisoners employed were accustomed to agricultural work before they became prisoners?
§ Sir R. HORNEYes, there were a certain number who were skilled agriculturists. They were carefully selected, and all the men now employed are men skilled in those operations.
§ Mr. SHORTIs the employment of these German prisoners to the financial advantage of farmers as compared with the employment of British labour?
§ Sir R. HORNENo, not at all. Every German prisoner employed is paid the same rate of wages as a British civilian labourer would get, and it is only because of the lack of skilled agricultural labour in this country that these men are employed at all.
§ Colonel YATEDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that if these labourers are suddenly removed it may cause a great set back to agriculture?
§ Sir R. HORNEWe must accept that when it comes.
Lieut.-Colonel MURRAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are still a great many agricultural labourers in the Army?
§ Sir R. HORNEYes, but hon. Members know how that occurred, and I need not dilate upon it further.