§ 39. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider amending the regulations 1374 governing the call-up of National Service men so that employees of agricultural contractors can be included among the farm workers who are eligible for consideration for deferment on agricultural grounds, in view of the fact that their work is concentrated on cultivating and improving the land.
§ The Minister of Labour and National Service (Sir Walter Monckton)This proposal has already been considered and found impracticable, as I explained in reply to the hon. Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Philips Price) on 23rd July, 1953. The deferment arrangements in respect of agricultural workers are based on the contribution made by the particular worker to the production of food at an individual farm, and it would be impossible to apply this principle to men working for agricultural contractors.