HC Deb 12 March 1952 vol 497 cc1385-8
67. Mr. Anthony Hurd

asked the Minister of Labour how many farm workers in Berkshire have become liable for call-up for National Service since 1st November last; how many appeals have been considered by the advisory tribunal; and in how many cases deferment has been granted.

The Minister of Labour (Sir Walter Monckton)

Approximately 200; 71 applications for deferment have been considered by the Berkshire Agricultural Advisory Panel, and deferment has been granted in 30 cases. Sixteen cases are still under consideration.

Mr. Hurd

In areas like these, where there are now very strong competing claims for labour, will the Minister ensure that all factors that might adversely affect food production are looked into?

Sir W. Monckton

I do not think there is any call at present to do more than have the careful examination which we require.

Mr. Archer Baldwin

Will the Minister consider whether it is worth while calling up farm labourers for training when, in the event of war, it is quite unlikely that they will be called to the forces; and does he not think it would be much better that these men, instead of being called up for regular training, should be drafted to the Home Guard, in which they could serve where they might be of some use?

Sir W. Monckton

I do not think the time has come when we could except agricultural labourers from the general liability to be called up which falls on other people.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Does the Minister still maintain that the relations between his Department, the farming community and the National Farmers' Union continue to be friendly?

Sir W. Monckton

I think our relations are friendly, although we do not always entirely agree.

Mr. Peter Remnant

Can the Minister say in how many cases where deferment has not been granted the farmer has been able to find a substitute, and, if not, are agricultural producers always to suffer?

Sir W. Monckton

I am afraid that I could not, without notice, give information about an individual case among these 71.

Mr. Thomas Williams

May I ask the Minister if, where an appeal is rejected and the man is called up, and it is found that no substitute is available, consideration is given to releasing the man from the Service?

Sir W. Monckton

If that is not so now, I will look into it and see if it can be done in future.

Mr. Langford-Holt

Will my right hon. and learned Friend satisfy himself that it is a sound principle to call up in peacetime people who will not, generally speaking, be required to serve in wartime?

Sir W. Monckton

I am quite unable to say, in advance of the emergency that may occur one day, whether particular people would be called up.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is the Minister aware that shepherds are being called up in my constituency, where there is a shortage of labour on the sheep farms, because of the hard winter and the needs of the lambing season, and will he give consideration to this matter, as the shepherds are now asking whether Ministers are going to be called up next?

Sir W. Monckton

I can only say that this Minister will not be reluctant if he is taken to be a good deal younger than he is. As far as shepherds are concerned, I have already made some exceptions in regard to them.

Colonel Alan Gomme-Duncan

Would not the Minister agree that food is the first line of defence, and, secondly, does he not think that perhaps there is undue urban bias on the advisory tribunals, which thereby do not present the true picture?

Sir W. Monckton

I cannot agree that there is undue urban bias. We do our best to see that these tribunals function properly.

Brigadier O. L. Prior-Palmer

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman continue as long as possible to resist with all his force any question of a selective call up, having regard to the disastrous results which occurred in America?

Sir W. Monckton

I will.