§ Mr. De Chairasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is satisfied with the organisation and discipline of prisoner-of-war labour in Norfolk used to assist agricultural operations.
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Mr. HudsonI am not satisfied with the output of some of the Italian prisoners now working in Norfolk, but I am not aware of any way in which it is practicable to improve their organisation and discipline in present circumstances. Where complaints of unsatisfactory work or conduct are duly made by a farmer or the foreman in charge of a gang of prisoners, disciplinary action is taken by the Camp Commandant in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention.
§ Mr. De Chairasked the Minister of Agriculture why German prisoners of war, who were brought to Norfolk for the purpose of assisting with the lifting of potatoes and sugar beet 10 days ago, have been removed; and what is the reason for this.
Mr. HudsonThe prisoners in question were N.C.O.s who, under the Geneva Convention, can only be compelled to undertake supervisory work. Most of those removed were replaced on the following day and the balance within a week.
§ Mr. De Chairasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that farmers in South-west Norfolk have been encouraged to expect prisoners-of-war labour to help with the lifting of sugar-beet and potatoes, but that the number of these who have so far arrived is totally inadequate to meet the problem; and whether he can give the figures of prisoners of war at present available in South-west Norfolk for this work.
Mr. HudsonAlthough there have been special difficulties in South-west Norfolk a considerable number of additional prisoners have already been sent to this area and several hundred more are in the process of being posted. The War Agricultural Executive Committee inform me that, given reasonable weather, the total labour now arranged for should be adequate to meet the needs of the area. The number of prisoners at present available in South-west Norfolk is approximately 1,000.
§ Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the serious state of the unharvested sugar-beet crop; and what steps he has taken to secure the necessary labour, particularly in the Selby district of Yorkshire.
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Mr. HudsonI am aware that the lifting of sugar beet has been delayed in many districts owing to the bad weather and the requirements of the potato crop. An account of the more important steps taken to provide additional labour for these crops was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) on 26th October. In the Selby district 850 German prisoners have recently been supplied and a number of prisoners and other workers have been made available by the War Office under local arrangements.
§ Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the shortage of agricultural labour in the Selby district of Yorkshire, immediate arrangements can be made to transfer more prisoners of war to the prisoners-of-war camp at Brayton in order that they may assist in the lifting of sugar beet.
Mr. HudsonI am informed by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for War, that this camp is now full to capacity on the basis of the standards laid down by the Geneva Convention.