§ 113. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he will take to arrest the decline in the number of agricultural workers in England and Wales.
§ Sir T. DugdaleI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Peart) on 4th December.
§ 121. Mr. Murrayasked the Minister of Agriculture how many workers have left the land during 1949, 1950 and 1951, and up to the latest date in 1952; if he is aware that this drift from the land can have serious consequences to this country; and what scheme or proposals he has to deal with this situation.
§ Sir T. DugdaleAccording to the September returns, the number of regular agricultural workers in England and Wales fell by 7,500 between 1949 and 1950, by 14,700 between 1950 and 1951 and by 20,300 between 1951 and 1952. As regards the second and third parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Peart) on 4th December.