§ 31. Mr. G. Jegerasked the Minister of Labour what action is taken to verify applications for Service deferment on 18 grounds of alleged employment in agriculture.
§ Mr. IsaacsWhen a man registers under the National Service Acts as an agricultural worker, his employer is asked to confirm in writing that he is employed in the occupation stated. If the man entered agricultural employment less than three months before the date he was due to register, special inquiry is made.
§ Mr. JegerIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is considerable feeling in the countryside that a number of the young sons of farmers are being registered as agricultural workers when the time they give to that employment is a bare minimum? Will my right hon. Friend get his local committees to take up the matter with the county agricultural committees in the case of sons of farmers?
§ Mr. IsaacsIn all such cases we use the services of the county agricultural committee. We take every possible step to see that no one unfairly evades his duty of service.
§ Lieut.-Commander Gurney BraithwaiteHas the Minister any evidence that these young men are either "cossetted" or "feather-bedded "?