HC Deb 16 October 1968 vol 770 cc370-1
34. Sir H. Legge-Bourke

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to respond to the call from the Potato Marketing Board and the National Farmers' Union to assist in providing additional labour to help growers in lifting the potato crop; and whether he will hire temporary accommodation at the agricultural holiday camp at Fridaybridge, near Wis-bech, for such additional labour forces as may be available from the Armed Forces or volunteers.

Mr. Hoy

Through local officials and by liaison with the Potato Marketing Board and the National Farmers' Union we are keeping in closest touch with the potato harvesting situation as it develops. Officials are also in touch with the Department of Employment and Productivity and the Ministry of Defence. The latter's help will be sought if necessary. Standing arrangements provide for military assistance to be called in only if there is a national or regional emergency and when all available sources of civilian labour have been exhausted. That situation has certainly not yet been reached.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that something in the nature of an emergency has arisen, particularly in the Fenland areas, not least because, owing to recent weather conditions, it is virtually now impossible in many cases to get mechanical potato lifting machinery on to the land at all, and therefore a great deal of the crop will have to be lifted by hand? In the light of this, will he reconsider the urgency of calling in the Armed Forces to help?

Mr. Hoy

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are in consultation with the parties I have mentioned and he will be delighted to know that the weather has improved considerably this week so that a good deal more machinery is on the land. I give him the assurance that we will keep very close watch on this, and, if necessary, we shall take the action which is required.

Mr. Hazell

If my hon. Friend does consider it necessary in due course to introduce additional labour such as members of the Armed Forces, and so on, to help with the potato harvest, will he make quite sure he consults the workers' unions before such additional labour is taken on?

Mr. Hoy

My hon. Friend does have the assurance that we consult everyone concerned. We must not reach conclusions now, and I did not say we have got to use the Armed Forces. What I did say was that if there is an emergency then we would obviously want to consult everybody concerned about it.