Sir H. ROBERTSasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he 321W has received representations from Wales with reference to the necessity of releasing the skilled ploughmen called up for military service since 1st May last; and whether, in view of the present agricultural conditions in many parts of Wales, he can give an assurance that the skilled ploughmen referred to will be released and allocated to the counties in which they were recruited?
§ Mr. PROTHEROI regret to say that I am aware of the shortage of skilled agricultural labour in parts of Wales, and that it is impossible to obtain the release of the men referred to in the first part of the question. But the War Office hope to be able to provide some 2,500 skilled ploughmen for England and Wales on two months' furlough. These men will, as far as possible, be returned to the county of their origin, and Wales will receive a proportion.