31. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture the total increase of agricultural labourers employed on the land during the last three months; and what further steps the Government are taking to augment this increase?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI regret that information is not available to enable me to reply to the first part of the question. As regards the second part, it is one of the objects of the Government's policy of assistance to the industry to check the decline which has taken place in recent years.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that this is the most important question of the day? Is he aware that his whole arable scheme will fall to the ground if the necessary labour is not available, and that you may multiply the most modern machines and adopt the most modern methods, but the human element, the farm labourer, is the most important of all?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI am well aware of that.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that there has been any increase in agricultural labour?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithIt is impossible for my Department to say, inasmuch as our returns have not come in.
§ Mr. G. GriffithsIs it not a fact that you will not get the men back until they get a decent wage?
§ Mr. de RothschildCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether there has been any increase in agricultural labour?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI have said that I cannot give any official figures.
§ Mr. de RothschildWithout official figures, can the right hon. Gentleman give any estimate of an increase in the last few months?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithIt would be difficult to do that without trying to give some figures. I cannot give figures for the last three months.
Mr. De la BèreIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.