HC Deb 06 February 1947 vol 432 c1949
40. Mr. Sidney Shephard

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the likelihood of labour shortage in agriculture in 1947, she will allow schoolchildren to assist in next year's harvest.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education (Mr. Hardman)

I have been discussing the question with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

Mr. King

Would the Parliamentary Secretary impress upon his colleague the fact that troops could be more usefully used?

Mr. Hardman

Both Ministries are extremely anxious to avoid at all cost child labour, so that everything is being examined to see what can be done to use other sources of labour as far as possible.

Mr. Shephard

Would the Minister appreciate that agriculture is faced with a serious manpower problem owing to the repatriation of prisoners of war, and will he look at that aspect of this matter before arriving at a decision?

Mr. Hardman

We are aware of the great difficulties that the Ministry of Agriculture are facing in getting in the harvest of 1947.