§ Mr. KELLYasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the need for enforcing the provision of adequate sanitary accommodation for the seasonal Irish workers on Scottish farms, separate sleeping accommodation for the sexes, and facilities for cooking food, washing, and drying; and whether, if legislation is needed to secure such accommodation, he will introduce a Bill dealing with the subject?
§ Mr. O'DOHERTYasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention had been directed to the conditions under which Irish seasonal workers of both sexes have to live on Scottish farms; and 234W whether he will take steps to obtain legislation which will compel the employers of such labourers to house them in adequately clean and comfortable circumstances, and also to have regard to the ordinary decencies of life?
§ Mr. TENNANTMy attention was recently directed to a case in which the conditions were far from satisfactory, and on inquiry I ascertained that the public health authority had already taken remedial action. I am consulting my advisers in Scotland as to the action which it may be possible to take on the lines suggested by my hon. Friends. I would remind them that Irish migratory labour is owing to the present scarcity of local labour employed over large areas where accommodation has not hitherto been required for such purposes.