Mr. FOOT MITCHELLasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that in many districts farmers are losing their best hands owing to the high wages paid for road work in the district; and what steps, if any, he is taking to ensure that this shortage of labour on the land, particularly at the present time, is being met?
Mr. WOODI am aware of the facts as stated in my hon. Friend's question. In the case of road-men directly employed by local authorities in rural areas for the ordinary work of road maintenance, I understand that the wages are, generally speaking, not materially higher than the current agricultural wages of the district. In the case of contract work, however, it is, as my hon. Friend will be aware, a condition of all grants from Government funds, that the Fair Wages Clause shall apply, with the result that in many cases the wages are, no doubt, above the agricultural rates. With regard to any temporary shortage of labour on the land, farmers' requirements can in many cases be met from the Employment Exchanges, and a Press notice has recently been issued urging farmers to take advantage of the facilities provided.