§ 73. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the latest estimate of the number of agricultural labourers out of employment in England and Wales?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE (Dr. Addison)My right hon. Friend has no detailed information on the subject subsequent to that contained in his speech on the Ministry's Estimates on the 12th May, when he stated that reports obtained from the Ministry's crop reporters in February last indicated that a total of between 30,000 and 40,000 agricultural workers were unemployed in that month. This estimate included both casual and regular workers, though the bulk of the unemployment was among casual workers.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it a fact that most of these unemployed men are found in the arable districts?
§ Dr. ADDISONYes.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEHave the Government any policy for dealing with this problem?