HC Deb 14 March 1917 vol 91 cc1113-4W
Mr. G. LAMBERT

asked the right hon Member for Barnard Castle, as representing the Ministry of National Service, whether it is intended that farmers and agicultural labourers are expected to enrol under the National Service scheme, seeing they are already engaged in the vital industry of home food production?

Mr. BECK

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question, Farmers and agricultural labourers are invited to enrol under the National Service scheme, but the Director-General has already given an assurance that he will not knowingly take away people engaged on the land and put them in other occupations, and will not move people already engaged in agriculture from one place to another without the assent and approval of the President of the Board of Agriculture or his local agricultural representative.