§ 43. Mr. STOURTONasked the Minister of Agriculture how many Irish seasonal workers have come over to this country during the present year and have been or are at present employed in the agricultural industry?
§ Major ELLIOTI am afraid that no statistics are available of the number of Irish workers who come to this country for seasonal employment in agriculture. From such information as is available, however, it does not appear that the number this year has been greater than usual.
§ Mr. STOURTONCould not the coming of Irish workers be stopped altogether while unemployment continues?
§ Mr. LAMBERTCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether these 314 men who come to England are paid the standard rate of wages?
§ Major ELLIOTI am afraid that I shall need to make inquiry into that matter.
Major HARVEYCan my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether this includes Northern Ireland, or does it only refer to the Irish Free State?
§ Major ELLIOTI take it that this refers both to migrants from the Free State and from Northern Ireland. It is one of the difficulties of the situation.