§ 78. Mr. THURTLEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether any workers and, if so, how many, have been imported from Ireland to the eastern counties for the purpose of dealing with the sugar beet crop?
§ Dr. ADDISONAlthough I understand that a certain number of Irish workers have been engaged for seasonal work on the sugar beet crop in the eastern counties, I have no particulars of the total numbers involved. As was explained in my predecessor's reply on the 29th April to the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely (Mr. de Rothschild), special efforts have been made by my Department in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour, the National Farmers' Union and the Beet Sugar Factories Committee to urge growers to recruit any additional workers required for sugar beet from local sources, and, as far as I can ascertain, growers generally have adopted that course.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the chief offenders are the factories, who could employ local labour in the winter when there is a good deal of local agricultural labour available, and will he look into it?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have already done so, and I believe that all the factories are now coming to this arrangement.
§ Mr. HARRISIs this new policy an example of Empire Free Trade?