§ 58. Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the confusion and consequent suffering of hop pickers in Kent during the recent hopping season; and will he consider legislation on the lines of the Factory Acts in order to compel owners of hop fields to provide the accommodation required by modern ideas of humanity?
§ 69 and 70. Mr. BRIANTasked the Minister of Health (1) if he is aware that the sanitary condition of many of the hop fields during last season was deplorable; what steps his Department is taking to obtain a permanent improvement in the general conditions; and will he appoint women inspectors to be on duty next season during the whole of the time that hop-picking continues;
1599 (2) if inspectors from his Department have visited the hop fields during the past season; and, if so, if the Report made can be issued for the information of the House?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am aware that the conditions in many camps in the Kent and Sussex hop fields are unsatisfactory, and my Department is working in close co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries with a view to securing improvement. The administration of the law and by-laws relating to this matter is a duty devolving, in the first instance, on the local authorities, and their efforts, supported by local voluntary workers have already effected a noteworthy improvement, but I have in preparation new model by-laws which the local authorities will presently be asked to adopt. In the last two years numerous visits have been made by inspectors, both of my Department and that of my right hon. Friend, including a lady inspector of the Ministry of Agriculture, and I propose to circulate among the local authorities concerned a report recently prepared by one of my medical officers dealing with those hop fields in Kent and Sussex which have been inspected. I shall be happy to send a copy to the hon. Members.
Viscountess ASTORAs 90 per cent. of the workers in the hop fields are women and children, would it not be wise to have more women inspectors?
§ Major Sir GRANVILLE WHELERCan the Minister give us any idea as to the percentage of the hop gardens where these unsatisfactory conditions exist; and is it not quite clear that these apply only to imported hop pickers, and have nothing to do with the local people at all?