HC Deb 25 November 1946 vol 430 cc1254-5
50. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the fact that the agreed price for British labour for hoeing and singling sugar beet in a district in Norfolk, which represents some 6,000 acres of sugar beet, works out on 20-inches work at £3 18s. per acre, why the Norfolk A.E.C. charged a contract price of £4 13s. 1d. for unskilled prisoner-of-war labour; and who receives the difference.

Mr. T. Williams

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 28th October. I have recently written further to him on this matter.

Sir W. Smithers

Is not the Minister aware that that previous reply was very unsatisfactory, and that I hoped to get a better reply today? Why should the farmers subsidise the War Office?

Mr. Williams

The hon. Member has not yet satisfied me that they do.