§ 47 and 48. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) how many British workers are employed under the Bedfordshire Agricultural Executive Committee at the nearest convenient date; and how does this figure compare with that for a year ago;
(2) how many prisoners of war, Poles and European voluntary workers are employed under the Bedfordshire Agricultural Executive Committee at the nearest convenient date; and how does the total of these three categories compare with the number of foreigners thus engaged a year ago.
§ The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (Mr. Thomas Williams)As the answer contains a number of figures, I am circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The table below sets out the number of British and foreign agricultural workers under the control of the Bedfordshire Agricultural Executive Committee at the end of May, 1947, and at the same date this year.
| Nationality | At 31st May, 1947. | At 31st May, 1948. |
| British (including Women's Land Army). | 537 | 505 |
| Polish | 33 | 92 |
| European Volunteer Workers. | — | 77 |
| German civilians | — | 174 |
| German prisoners of war | 1,934 | — |
| Total | 2,504 | 848 |
§ The figures for German prisoners of war represent the total working strength available to the committee. The figures for British workers exclude seasonal workers (e.g. persons attending Volunteer Agricultural Camps, Service personnel, etc.) for whom work is arranged by the committee but who are not actually in the committee's employ.