§ Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether arrangements can be made for Italian prisoners of war to be billeted on farms in North Yorkshire in order that the work of turnip-hoeing and harvesting may be expedited?
Mr. HudsonTwo camps for Italian prisoners are now under construction in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The agricultural prisoners so far allocated to them are recent arrivals; and there are not yet many of them. In these circumstances, it has been decided locally that applications for prisoners to be billeted on farms should not be approved till later in the year.
§ Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether arrangements are being made for the use by agricultural contractors and agricultural engineers of Italian prisoners of war with the necessary skill and experience?
Mr. HudsonThe Italian prisoners of war allocated to my Department may be made available to agricultural contractors, through county war agricultural executive committees, for agricultural and drainage work. These prisoners are all needed for urgent work on the land. Arrangements have not so far been made for Italian prisoners to be employed in agricultural engineering.