HC Deb 07 August 1941 vol 373 c2090
54. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the instances in Worcestershire of crops being ploughed in because of lack of labour, he will confer with the War Office and the Ministry of Labour with a view to restoring skilled labour from the Home Forces to the land?

Mr. Hudson

I am not aware of any cases where crops have been ploughed in for lack of labour, and I shall be glad to have particulars. As regards the release of skilled labour from the Forces, I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 15th May and to my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Sir Herbert Williams) on 12th June.

Mr. De la Bère

Is my right hon. Friend aware that from the national standpoint it is sheer folly to plough in crops on land which has been ploughed at such great sacrifice by the farmers, and if I give him abundant evidence that it has taken place in Worcestershire, will he really take this matter very seriously?

Mr. Hudson

I shall be very glad to look into it.