§ 54 and 55. Commander Locker-Lampsonasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether he is aware that as the land-girls employed under the Ministry are recruited mainly from non-rural areas they are not as interested in animals as if their origin had been rural; and whether he will take special steps to interest new entrants in animals; 1933 (2) what proportion of the land-girls are able to milk; and whether he will encourage all land-girls to acquire this accomplishment and offer prizes for this purpose.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsSpecial attention is already given to encouraging volunteers for the W.L.A. from both urban and rural areas to take up milking and the care of livestock. I have no information about the proportion of land-girls who are able to milk, but about one-third of those employed on farms or by war agricultural executive committees are employed as milkers, or on general farm work, including milking.
§ Commander Locker-LampsonWill my right hon. Friend consider granting prizes, such as I have suggested?
§ Mr. WilliamsI rather doubt whether that suggestion would be wise. If we start granting prizes to one section, we shall have to make universal distribution of prizes over all sections of agriculture.