§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the extravagant use of petrol in the conveyance of members of the Women's Land Army; whether he has made inquiries into the particular instance referred to; and what action he has taken?
Mr. HudsonYes, Sir. Twenty-six land girls who are unable to obtain billets nearer to their training centre in Sussex are conveyed to work by bus each day during a three weeks' special course. The distance is 20 miles. Some of the girls are picked up at intermediate stages on the bus route to which they cycle from their billets. Every consideration has been given to the economic use of petrol. The hon. Member will, however, appreciate that owing to the needs of the Armed Forces and evacuees, accommodation is unobtainable in many areas and arrangements of the kind referred to may prove to be inevitable in the essential interests of food production.