§ Sir W. Jenkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture what number of men and women are being trained to deal with war-time supply for agricultural work in each of the counties of Wales, giving each county separately; and what action he is taking to increase the supply?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI assume that the hon. Member is referring to Government war-time training schemes for supplying agricultural labour, and not to the normal education facilities, which are being continued throughout England and Wales. So far, direct action on the part of my Department has been limited to the training of Women's Land Army volunteers. This training scheme was slowed down during the winter months owing to the lack of demand for such labour on the part of farmers. The total number of Women's Land Army volunteers from Wales who will have been trained by the end of this month is 280. I append a table showing how this number is allocated among counties. Consideration is now being given to a scheme for the training in agriculture of a certain number of boys from towns.
County. Number of Women's Land Army Volunteers trained. Anglesey 12 Brecon and Radnor 8 Caernarvon 34 Cardigan 5 Carmarthen 11 Denbigh 38 Flint 16 Glamorgan 125 Merioneth 8 Montgomery 16 Pembroke 7 Total 280