§ 19. Major Anstruther-Grayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now decided to accept the conclusion of the Committee on the Employment of Children in the potato harvest, that it is still necessary to exempt children from attendance at school to assist in lifting the potato crop.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartOn 22nd March a circular was sent to education authorities informing them that my right hon. Friend accepted the Committee's conclusion.
§ Major Anstruther-GrayWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that most people regard the decision of the Secretary of State on this matter as being very sensible in the circumstances?
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there are still many people who do not regard the attitude of the Secretary of State as a correct one, and is he further aware that the solution of this problem depends upon the invention of a machine which can deal properly with the harvesting of potatoes? Is the Minister prepared to ask his Department to step aside from pushing on automation with such speed in order to find out whether the scientists cannot discover a machine which will relieve children for their proper job, which is to be educated for the purposes for which the schools stand?
§ Mr. StewartYes, Sir. We recognise that the proper solution here is the provision of a suitable all-purpose machine, which my hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary will be dealing with on a subsequent Question. As to whether the decision of my right hon. Friend was right, there can be no question of that. If the right hon. Gentleman would agree to look at paragraph 33 of the Report of the Committee, he will find that it made a clear recommendation and conclusion, which we have accepted.
§ Mr. WoodburnThe point is whether the Question and Answer do not show a certain amount of complacency in assuming that this matter can lie dormant.
§ 39. Sir J. Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to promote research for the production of an efficient potato harvester.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Niall Macpherson)Research and development work is being actively conducted by the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering and its sub-station in Scotland at Howden. As the rose Committee said in its Report, "much time, thought, and money are being devoted by individuals, firms and Government agencies to the production of" such a machine. Every encouragement has been given by my right hon. Friend and he is keeping the problem under continuous review.
§ Sir J. HutchisonIn view of the competition for these children's services both in education and in agriculture, does my hon. Friend recognise the urgency of the question? Has he considered co-operating in research with his English counterparts? Has he drawn in, for example, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research or the Agricultural Research Council? Every avenue to discover a suitable machine should be explored.
§ Mr. MacphersonI think that the answer to all my hon. Friend's questions is, "Yes, Sir."
§ Mr. T. FraserIn appreciating the urgency of getting a really successful all-purpose potato harvester, does the hon. Gentleman not realise that the more progressive and forward-thinking farmers have for a good many years been using the elevator type of harvester, lifting two or three drills at a time, thus to a great extent saving the employment of children? Will he do his utmost to ensure that this improved type of harvester is used until such time as we can (let the all-purpose potato harvester to which his hon. Friend has referred?
§ Mr. MacphersonWe shall be very glad to do what we can to ensure its use in appropriate circumstances, hut, as the hon. Member knows, it is not appropriate in all circumstances.