58. Mr. E. P. Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will reverse his decision against the employment of German prisoners of war as lorry drivers to transport their fellow prisoners to and from their agricultural labours in Kent; and if he is aware that his refusal to agree to the utilisation of the prisoners in this capacity has added considerably to the housing shortage in Ashford, Kent.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsCounty war agricultural executive committees are under instructions not to employ prisoners of war as lorry, drivers where British drivers are available. As regards the second part of the Question, the Kent committee occupy one house in Ashford as a hostel for their drivers. Every endeavour is being made to find alternative accommodation so as to enable the premises to be released, but I should not be justified in attempting to solve this problem by sanctioning the displacement of British by prisoner labour.
Mr. SmithCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the appropriate trade union is opposed to the employment 609 of prisoner lorry drivers and, if so, will he represent to them that there are at present 850 families unhoused in Ashford, Kent, who urgently need this accommodation?
§ Mr. WilliamsThose 850 families could not be placed in that particular house.
§ Mr. WilliamsI am sorry if the hon. Gentleman thought I was flippant in any way about my answer, but he referred to 850 families, whereas I had referred to only one house occupied by these drivers. I am not sure what the attitude of the trade union is to the prisoners driving lorries, but what I am concerned about is that prisoners shall not be used if British labour is on the job.
§ Mr. HurdWhere prisoners are employed, is it not possible to give instructions that they shall work, and not stand about?
§ Mr. WilliamsIf the hon. Member will supply me with information of what he alleges, I will look into it.
§ Mr. WilliamsIf the hon. Member will give the information, I will look at it.