§ 32. Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is being done to deal with the shortage of skilled workers in the Scottish agricultural industry; and whether any action is to be taken to provide wage-fixing machinery in the industry?
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Ernest Brown)I would refer my right hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal, on 5th June, on the powers taken by the Government to retain the workers at present engaged in agriculture and to bring back those previously employed in it when they fall out of employment elsewhere. As regards the second part of the Question, machinery for fixing minimum rates of agricultural wages in Scotland already exists, and it will be possible to give effect to the Government's plans for raising the level of agricultural wages within the framework of the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) (Scotland) Act, 1937, as amended by the Bill which is now in its last stages in another place.
Mr. DavidsonCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether there has been a satisfactory influx of agricultural workers to Scottish agriculture during the past three months?