HC Deb 18 November 1947 vol 444 c959
16. Mr. Dye

asked the Minister of Labour how many farm workers have been registered as unemployed for two consecutive weeks in England and Wales and in Norfolk for the latest available fortnight.

Mr. Ness Edwards

I regret that statistics are not available.

Mr. Dye

Will my right hon. Friend try to obtain them?

Mr. Ness Edwards

We have already held meetings with representatives of the agricultural industry, and have urged farmers not to dismiss men in slack periods.

Mr. Orr-Ewing

How is it that these figures are not available? Does not the right hon. Gentleman's Department get regular returns on these matters?

Mr. Ness Edwards

They are not available except at the end of the quarter. It is merely that we have not got the current figures.