HC Deb 26 May 1939 vol 347 cc2699-700W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can arrange for the names of those who entered their names in the National Register for service in the land army to be communicated to the appropriate authority ii each county so that a scheme may be devised for such persons to have the opportunity to volunteer to obtain experience in assisting to carry this year's harvest under proper wage conditions laid down by the Wages Board?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

If my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to the National Service Handbook, he will see that women were invited to enrol in the Women's Land Army to undertake farm work in the event of war. As stated in the reply which I am giving to-day to my hon. Friends the Members for Tamworth and Devizes respectively, arrangements are being made to provide training facilities for Land Army volunteers in time of peace. While the primary objective of such training is an addition to the agricultural labour supply available in time of war, there is no objection to any member of the Women's Land Army undertaking farm work in peace time under the usual conditions applicable to agricultural employment.

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