§ 7. Major Anstruther-Grayasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give figures to show the extent to which the average age of those employed in agriculture has risen since 1949; and whether he will give separate figures for Scotland.
§ Sir W. MoncktonSome information about the age-distribution of employed persons was obtained in 1950, 1951 and 1952, but as it was based on small samples it is not sufficiently precise to enable the average age of persons employed in a particular industry to be computed. It shows, however, that there was 1482 little change in the age-distribution of employed persons in agriculture during that period. Separate figures are not available for Scotland.
§ Mr. PeartIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the Minister of Agriculture recently, in Newcastle, specified the particular age group which was leaving the land because of lack of amenities in the countryside? If that is so, where did the Minister get his information from?
§ Sir W. MoncktonAs I said, the information was obtained from a very small sample analysis of insurance cards over the three years. They do not enable me to say more than that there has not been much change in the distribution of age groups in agriculture.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIn view of the fact that the Minister has no figures for Scotland, will he conduct an inquiry into the position in Scotland, since all the responsible farmers' leaders in the West of Scotland are urging him to stop the call-up for agricultural workers to enable them to have a labour force with which they can carry out the plans which the Government have asked them undertake?
§ Sir W. MoncktonThat is a rather different matter. I have looked with such sympathy as I can at claims for deferment, and I think that all who are interested will realise that the farmers have not been badly treated.