HC Deb 09 December 1936 vol 318 cc1992-3
44. Mr. LOUIS SMITH

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the shortage of labour in Lincolnshire and some other arable areas of the country, he will arrange to send one of his chief officials at an early date to the Employment Exchanges in these areas with a view to making more effective arrangements to encourage workers from the distressed areas to transfer to these arable areas where a guarantee of permanent employment can be given to them?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead)

I am not aware that there is a shortage of workpeople for permanent, as distinct from seasonal, agricultural work in the districts mentioned and, as my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member for West Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Dr. Leech) on 3rd December, the transfer of workpeople from the depressed areas to employment in agriculture presents practical difficulties. If, however, my hon. Friend, would send me particulars, I should be pleased to consider the matter further.

Mr. SMITH

As a great many farmers are short of labour, will my hon. and gallant Friend further investigate this shortage?

Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUEL

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that in North Norfolk and South Lincolnshire men are being diverted away from the land to go into Government works, and would it not be better to arrange to take and train men from the distressed areas for Government work than to take agricultural workers?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

In answer to the first supplementary question, if my hon. Friend will send me particulars of cases he has in mind, we will investigate them apart from the general investigations that we are carrying out. With regard to the second supplementary question, we do, of course, make recommendations that employes for that particular kind of work should be obtained from Employment Exchanges, but contractors are free to obtain their employes where they will.

Mr. ALEXANDER

Will the Parliamentary Secretary see that no agricultural worker is prevented from improving his position?