§ 13. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Minister of Labour if, in his review of the operation of the National Service Acts, he will take into account the fact that farmers are finding it impossible to carry out the programme of food production owing to the call-up of agricultural workers.
§ Mr. WatkinsonWhile I do not agree that the position is as stated by the hon. Member, the effect of the call-up of some 200 agricultural workers on home food production is always borne in mind. The man-power needs of the Forces must. however, also be taken into account. The numbers called up will be further reduced to perhaps some 6,000 per age group, by the two adjustments announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture on 2nd February, that is the discontinuance of the call-up of agricultural workers placed in Medical Grade III and the introduction of a greater measure of flexibility in dealing with stockmen.
§ Mr. HughesIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the fanners continue to find the answers which he gives very unsatisfactory and that they still ask how they can increase food production when labour is steadily decreasing? The men go into the Army, and the trouble is that they never come back.
§ Mr. WatkinsonAs to the last part of the supplementary question, it would be rather unwise at the moment to assume that the men will not come back because the first groups are not due to be released until the end of this year. It would be unfair to assume that all of them will not be very delighted to come back to agriculture. As to the general figure, we are calling up only about 1 per cent. of the total number of whole-time male workers in the industry, and by recent adjustments we have reduced the total number over the whole country from 8,000 to 6,000, which makes quite a difference.