HC Deb 19 December 1941 vol 376 c2261W
Colonel Carver

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he contemplates being able to replace by prisoners of war on the land the 10,000 young agricultural workers who are being called up; and how many of these are available?

Mr. Hudson

I think that the young men being called up for military service will, for the most part, have to be replaced on farms by members of the Women's Land Army. About 4,500 prisoners of war are at present available for employment in agriculture and I hope that well over 10,000 more will become available during 1942. Most of these prisoners will, however, have to be employed on gang work.