HC Deb 13 July 1948 vol 453 cc1004-5
39. Commander Maitland

asked the Minister of Labour what age restrictions are imposed on European voluntary workers entering this country; and in the case of men who become agricultural workers, if they are allowed to leave agriculture and take up other work on attaining the age of fifty.

Mr. Isaacs

The upper age limit for admission is normally 50 but some older men have been accepted. European voluntary workers, of whatever age, are not free to change from one employment to another without permission. I am having inquiries made into the case about which the hon. and gallant Member has sent me particulars and will write to him.

Mr. Vane

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there is any limit to the total number of European voluntary workers that he can introduce into this country?

Mr. Isaacs

There is no limitation of the actual number of workers, looking at it from that angle; the number is limited by the requirement there is for them.

Brigadier Rayner

In view of the fact that a good many farmers in my constituency and in other constituencies would like to bring back to this country German ex-prisoner workers, will he be able to make this easier to do?

Mr. Isaacs

That is rather a different question. It deals with prisoners of war, and I am dealing with European voluntary workers at the moment.

40. Mr. Stubbs

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that subject to medical fitness the whole family of Mr. Huryn, of Austria, was accepted for employment in England under the European voluntary workers scheme in August, 1947, and that only one of the family has been allowed to travel to England, and why the rest of the family have not been allowed to travel in accordance with the scheme.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Ness Edwards)

Three adult sons of this family have been in this country for some time. The transfer of the rest of the family consisting of the father and mother and a child has been delayed because of the shortage of family accommodation, but I am hopeful that it will be possible to bring them here at an early date.