§ 61. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Agriculture what are the present principles which are applied in the case of those German prisoners of war who wish to remain in this country as agricultural workers; whether he is aware that a prisoner of war named Josef Kotik was recently informed that he must be repatriated to Germany because his 31 Department had already filled their quota in this connection; and whether, in view of the importance of increasing agricultural production here, action can be taken to encourage a greater number of German workers to remain here in this way.
§ Mr. G. BrownMy Department were authorised to recruit 16,000 German prisoners as farm workers, with provision for this figure to be exceeded to enable farmers to retain, where essential for food production, individual billeted prisoners who had been working for them regularly. Kotik's application was rejected last February because the full quota had been recruited. I cannot trace any more recent application to my Department. As regards the last part of the Question, my right hon. Friend does not think it is necessary or desirable to increase the number of German prisoners allowed to remain here for agricultural work in 1948.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-DavenportSo long as there is a shortage of agricultural labour, why not fill the gap as quickly as possible and let the farmers have the workers they urgently require?
§ Mr. BrownBecause we believe that we are able to supply almost every vacancy with suitable British or E.V.W. labour.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-DavenportBut there is still a large shortage of agricultural labour in this country, and in that case why not fill the gap as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. BrownIf the hon. and gallant Member will give me details of any individual case where a farmer cannot get labour, I think I shall be able to arrange for the supply of either British or E.V.W. labour. I should like to try to tackle the problem in that way before talking about more Germans.