§ Sir R. Glynasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, as he is arranging for extra meat, sugar, &c, to be made available in canteens serving industrial workers and is allowing more cheese in restaurants, he will consider the needs of agricultural workers, on whom a severe strain is now placed, and whose work has to be carried out in all weathers and for long hours without the amenities of indoor factories and other places protected from the winter climate; and whether he will at once continue the extra rations for farm workers granted during the summer during harvest, bearing in mind that heavy work in winter has to be carried out on the land?
§ Professor Savoryasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is prepared to adopt the policy followed during the harvest of allowing an extra half a pound of cheese to agricultural workers, in view of the fact that they are, in many cases, engaged at the present time for eight hours a day in cold and wet weather in pulling sugar-beet; whether he is aware that, in view of the extension of the cheese ration in restaurants and canteens, there is a feeling among agricultural workers that sufficient consideration has not been given to their case; and will he, therefore, give the matter his most careful attention?
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Major Lloyd GeorgeI would refer my hon. Friends to the answer which I have given to-day to my hon. Friend the Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith) from which he will see that a number of experiments have been and are being tried in different country districts with a view to the provision of additional facilities for the supply of meals which may prove of assistance to agricultural workers. Apart from this, however, close consideration is being given to the practicability of providing for agricultural workers, wherever circumstances permit, the equivalent of meals taken by factory and other workers in canteens. As regards the distribution of cheese, I must correct the reference made by my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) to more lavish consumption in restaurants. No increased supplies have in fact been provided recently for restaurants. Only an alteration was made as to the conditions under which cheese could be served. The extra allowance of cheese granted last summer for the benefit of agricultural workers engaged in harvest operations came to an end by agreement with the farmers' organisations concerned on 5th October. I may, however, add that my Noble Friend has decided to increase the amount of the special ration of cheese from 8 to 12 ozs. for persons at present eligible for the special cheese ration. This will, of course, include agricultural workers. The increase will take effect as from 15th December.
§ Professor Savoryasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the small working farmer does not get the extra half a pound of cheese granted to agricultural labourers because he has no Unemployment Insurance card that he can produce; and will he now take steps to remedy this anomaly?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a somewhat similar Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Renfrew (Major Lloyd) on nth November.