§ 7. Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons supplied through the Employment Exchanges for hoeing, singling and harvesting sugar-beet for the years 1930, 1931, 1932 and 1933; and if he is able to give the total number of regular and casual workers employed in the sugar-beet industry during those years?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe numbers of engagements made through the Exchanges for this work during each of the years 1930 to 1933 were 5,923, 3,407, 3,367 and 5,469 respectively. I regret that information is not available regarding the second part of the question.
§ Mr. LOUIS SMITHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these figures may not give a correct record of the numbers employed in this industry, as many of them have been engaged in other ways?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have no doubt that that may be so, but I have given the figures asked for in the question. The question, of course, deals with engagements made through the Employment Exchanges.
§ Captain HEILGERSIs the Minister aware that a great number of regular workers only retain whole-time employment on farms in East Anglia and other parts of England on account of the work which sugar-beet growing entails?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have no doubt at all that, prima facie, what my hon. and gallant Friend says is true.