§ 62. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Food if he will invite representatives of farm workers and farmers to discuss with him the best means of providing adequate rations for those engaged in agriculture who cannot take advantage of the canteen facilities available to other heavy workers.
§ Mr. WebbAs the hon. Member was good enough to advise me in advance of the proposal on this Question, I have made inquiries to ascertain its possible effect on other sections of industry who have made similar requests for extra rations in the past. As a result, it is quite evident that even a proposal to talk over future extra rations for those engaged in agriculture would arouse serious opposition among other heavy workers who feel they have an equally good claim.
Whilst I am always ready to consider any sectional representations on this or any other matter, I regret that I must tell the hon. Member that I cannot go beyond the well-established arrangements for the food problems of farm and other workers to be raised through the existing trade union machinery, where due account is taken of all the many and conflicting claims on our resources.