§ 19. Mr. Niall Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now allow a holiday with pay at State expense to those members of the W.L.A. who signed on for an indefinite period in October, 1945, adopting Choice I in form WLA186, and have now completed a further year's service in addition to at least two years' previous service.
§ Mr. WestwoodI regret that neither my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture nor I could accept this suggestion. The offer of a holiday with pay was made in exchange for an undertaking to serve for a further definite period and while the members referred to in the Question agreed to continue for a time they did not agree to remain for a specific period. Recently a further offer of a paid holiday was made to all members with two years' service who were prepared to give an undertaking to remain in the Land Army for a further year.
§ Mr. MacphersonIs not the reason why young women do not sign on for a further holiday because they do not want a holiday under false pretences? Surely it is unfair now to make the position that they will get the holiday if they sign on for a further year when they have already done 18 months in the Service?
§ Mr. WestwoodThere was nothing unfair in the suggestions that were made, but it would be unfair to those who accepted the obligation of a further year's service to give a holiday on the same lines to those who had refused to accept that undertaking.