§ 62. Mr. Higgsasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will investigate the possibility of releasing farm labourers from Home Guard duties when they work 60 hours a week or more?
Mr. HudsonArrangements have been in operation for some time whereby agricultural workers may be excused Home Guard duties when they are working long hours. There is close co-operation between county war agricultural executive committees and Home Guard commanding officers in this respect, and the actual arrangements in any district depend on local agricultural and military circumstances without reference to any fixed number of hours of work a week. Any agricultural worker who has difficulty in regard to Home Guard duties may explain the circumstances to his war agricultural executive committee and ask the committee to approach his commanding officer on his behalf.
§ Mr. HiggsIs my right hon. Friend aware that agricultural workers are not aware of those facts and are being worried to attend to Home Guard parades when they are working as much as go hours a week?