§ Mr. Bossomasked the Minister of Agriculture what are, today, the administrative costs to the nation of each land girl; and what was the comparative cost during the war.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsIt is not possible, owing to the fluctuating strength of the Women's Land Army and other considerations, to provide figures in the precise form 275W requested by the hon. Member. The following table gives figures for England and Wales for the enrolled strength of the Women's Land Army at the end of the financial years indicated and for expenditure on administration, including salaries, wages, travelling and subsistence expenses, of headquarters and county secretarial staffs and organisers and general office expenditure in those years:
Financial year. Enrolled strength of W.L.A. at end of financial years. Administrative Expenditure for Financial Year. £ 1940/41 … 11,715 35,220 1941/42 … 31,838 66,622 1942/43 … 61,730 131,190 1943/44 … 71,781 207,706 1944/45 … 63,130 269,248 1945/46 … 33,242 280,205 1946/47 … 25,939 288,000 (approx.) The above figures do not include the cost of allied services, e.g., postage, accommodation, etc., borne on the Votes of other Departments. The strength of the Land Army at the end of the last two financial years is no criterion of the administrative work involved. A substantial staff has had to be maintained to deal with releases and especially with recruiting campaigns. In addition voluntary workers have had to be replaced by salaried staff since the end of the war, and the salaries and wages of administrative staff have increased since June. 1945.