§ 26. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has recently made of the effect the call-up of agricultural workers for Her Majesty's Forces will have upon agricultural production in Scotland.
§ Mr. J. StuartBecause of the special deferment arrangements, it is not expected that agricultural production in Scotland will suffer to any material extent.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Minister aware that that answer is in flat contradiction to the experience of the Ayrshire branch of the National Farmers' Union, and does he realise that there is growing disquiet in Scotland at the fact that men are being called up at the same time as farmers are asked to increase production? Can he say how that production will be increased?
§ Mr. StuartThe total call-up of agricultural workers in Scotland brings in 800 men in a year, which is a little over 1 per cent. of the total male labour employed in agriculture. The call-up affects not more than one in 20 farms. However, we are keeping the matter under most careful review.
§ Mr. ManuelIs the Secretary of State aware that the Ayrshire Executive of the National Farmers' Union are convinced—and they have asked the Ayrshire M.P.s to bring this strongly to his notice—that crop acreage will be down in Ayrshire unless some regard is paid to this question of men being called up from agricultural work just when they are needed in an expanding economy for the provision of food supplies?
§ Mr. StuartI sincerely hope that there will not be a decrease. As I have said, we are watching the position very carefully. The number of farms affected is not very large.