HC Deb 21 January 1943 vol 386 cc318-9W
Mr. Naylor

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that members of the Land Army are allowed a week's summer holiday only when they have been employed in a single situation for the whole of the preceding 12 months, thus depriving those members who have transferred from one employer to another of the week's holiday; and whether the Regulation can be so altered as to allow of holiday or pay being granted at the time when one situation is left for another, in the proportion of one day's holiday or pay for each complete two months' service?

Mr. Hudson

Members of the Women's Land Army who are in private employment have the same legal right as other agricultural workers to the holidays with pay prescribed under the orders of the Agricultural Wages Committees. Holidays with pay defined under these orders are granted proportionately to the number of months worked. Further it is a condition upon which the Women's Land Army supplies its members for employment that whatever may be the holiday regulation locally in force in the employing county, the employer shall allow his land army worker at least one week's holiday with pay in the year; this holiday to be arranged at a convenient time after the completion of 6 months', not 12 months' service. If, however, a member of the W.L.A. leaves or is discharged from her employment before she has had her holiday, the Land Army has no power to compel the employer to grant a holiday with pay in excess of that for which the worker has qualified under the order of the Wages Committee. Members of the W.L.A. who are employed by a War Agricultural Executive Committee receive one week's holiday with pay in the year, usually on the completion of 6 months' service, and employment with any War Agricultural Executive Committee may be regarded as counting towards this holiday.

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