§ 50. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Labour the number of Poles actually in employment in this country at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI regret that precise information is not available as to the numbers of Poles who have from time to time entered the country as civilians. The number of ex-members of the Polish Armed Forces in employment here is approximately 7,000. The number of Poles engaged on camp maintenance, Polish administration, Service Department work, and on loan to civilian work, is 57,200.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDoes that answer mean that less than 10 per cent of the members of the Polish Resettlement Corps are as yet employed in productive industry?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsNo, Sir, it does not mean that.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeCan the hon. Gentleman give the figure of the number of Poles now at work in the mines?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI have not the exact figures of those who have entered training for work in the mines, but as individual civilians none is in the mines; they are going through the programme of training, and the programme of training was laid down by the Government.
§ Earl WintertonIn view of the desperate need for labour in the agricultural industry, has the hon. Gentleman's Department made any effort to acquaint the farming industry and the National Farmers' Union with the number of Poles available?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsYes, Sir, every step is taken to draw the attention of farmers to this reservoir which has good agricultural experience. We have established 1400 exchanges in Polish camps to try to speed up the contacts between farmers and Poles.