§ Sir G. Mitchesonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of insured persons in agricultural employment decreased between 1st July, 1938, and 1st July, 1939, whereas according to the agricultural returns there was an increase between 4th June, 1938, and 4th June, 1939; and will he state the cause of the apparent discrepancy?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe two sets of statistics are not compiled on the same basis, and there is a number of reasons which account for the apparent discrepancy. I am sending my hon. Friend a detailed statement explaining the differences between the two sets of figures; but probably the most important reason is that the figures compiled from the agricultural returns of 4th June include a number of casual and seasonal workers who, are not insured under the Agricultural Unemployment Insurance Scheme.