§ 4. Mr. DAVID GRENFELLasked the Minister of Labour whether he proposes to take steps to include agricultural and non-manual workers within the scheme of unemployment insurance?
Mr. HUDSONI would refer the hon. Member to the statements made on these subjects in this House during the passage of the Unemployment Bill.
§ Mr. GRENFELLHas anything happened to justify the statements, made at by-elections in agricultural constituencies, in which the Minister was said to have pledged himself to do something for agriculture?
Mr. HUDSONMy attention and that of my right hon. Friend had not been drawn to this matter, and, if the hon. Member will let me have the particulars, I will look into them.
§ Mr. GRENFELLAre we to assume from the reply that no authority has been given for those statements?
Mr. HUDSONThere is no authority beyond the statement made by my right hon. Friend in discussions on the Bill. The House will remember that specific instructions were put in the Bill making the duty of inquiring into the practicability of insuring agricultural workers a first duty of the statutory committee.