48. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consult with the appropriate W.L.A. authorities so as to ensure that all the W.L.A. groups in the country are allotted some wet weather employment in order to obviate the hours which at present are wasted.
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. R. S. Hudson)County war agricultural executive committees have been asked to make whatever arrangements are practicable to ensure that members of the Women's Land Army in their employment are kept fully occupied in wet weather. If my hon. Friend is aware of any avoidable failure to provide such wet weather employment perhaps he will let me know.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is great scope for development in the organisation of these matters and that in a large number of districts they are not fully organised at this time?
§ Mr. HudsonPerhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to let me have particulars.
§ Mr. G. GriffithsWill the right hon. Gentleman consult with the Minister of Labour, so that if a farmer sends them home under the Essential Work Order, they will be paid for time lost?
§ Mr. HudsonNo, Sir.
§ 53. Major Vyvyan Adamsasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that a member of the A.T.S. who lost an eye in the performance of her duties would, on discharge from the Service, receive a permanent pension of 16s. per week; and whether he will arrange for Miss Kathleen Giles, who has so far received only 25s. for each of the nine weeks during which she was unable to work after losing an eye when employed in the W.L.A., to receive on discharge from the W.L.A., a permanent pension of the same amount as if she had been a member of the A.T.S.
§ Mr. HudsonNo, Sir. Members of the Women's Land Army are not dealt with on the same basis as members of the Women's Forces, but, as I have explained to my hon. and gallant Friend, on the basis of the Workmen's Compensation Act.
§ Major AdamsDoes not my right hon. Friend think there is an important point of principle involved in this case? Is not Miss Giles, just because she is a member of the Women's Land Army, likely to be treated worse than a member of the Forces, or somebody in private employment?
§ Mr. HudsonMembers of the Women's Land Army are dealt with in the same way as ordinary agricultural workers in regard to injuries arising out of and in the course of their employment.
§ Major AdamsBut is not my right hon. Friend well aware that anybody in private employment, receiving such a terrible injury as this, would certainly be sure of some compensation?
§ Mr. HudsonNo, Sir, certainly not.