HC Deb 31 October 1949 vol 469 cc9-11W
Mr. J. Morrison

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of staff economies in the Women's Land Army has been among wardens and other working personnel; and what proportion in the visiting supervisory staff.

Mr. T. Williams

Both administrative and hostel staffs have been kept under continual review in the light of the reduction in the strength of the W.L.A. County supervisory staffs numbered 144 on 1st October, 1949, as compared with 202 a year previously. Hostel staffs over the same period were reduced from 2,537 to 1,451, largely because of the closing of hostels.

Mr. J. Morrison

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many Government Departments send representatives to Women's Land Army hostels; and for what reasons.

Mr. T. Williams

Representatives of Departments other than my own, for example, the Ministry of Works, normally visit W.L.A. hostels only in connection with services provided by them.

Mr. Sharp

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has now any statement to make about the future of the Women's Land Army.

Mr. T. Williams

The Government have had under review the question of the continuance of the Women's Land Army. Hon. Members will be aware that the W.L.A. was created to meet a war time need. The labour difficulties of the agricultural industry since the war have, however, made it necessary to prolong the life of the organisation, and I stated in the House on 26th January, 1948, that we must be ready to keep the W.L.A. in being for a few more years. The supply of regular workers in agriculture has steadily improved and the prospects of further recruitment seem reasonably satisfactory. Concurrently, the strength of the Land Army has fallen from 54,000 in September, 1945, to under 15,000 in September, 1949. In this situation the Government have been obliged to consider whether the purpose for which the W.L.A. was established has been achieved, and whether the time has not come to set a term to the existence of the Land Army organisation. It has now been decided to maintain the W.L.A. for a further twelve months and to bring it to a close at the end of November, 1950. Recruitment for work with county agricultural executive committees has been stopped; but within the limit set by demand, girls will be accepted up to 31st March, 1950, for employment with individual farmers. The Secretary of State for Scotland has asked me to add that similar action will be taken in Scotland in regard to the Scottish W.L.A.

I would emphasise that the winding-up of the organisation, and of the privileges at present attaching to membership of it, does not mean that existing members will lose their employment. On the contrary, I hope that as many of them as possible will decide to remain permanently in agriculture in company with the many other women workers in the industry. Consideration will be given during the coming months to the question whether there is a call for any special provision for the welfare of the ex-W.L.A. members remaining on the land after 1950.

The W.L.A., besides serving emergency needs, has introduced many women brought up in the towns to a career in agriculture and the countryside. A means of continued access to the industry for such women will be afforded by the vocational training scheme, which is now being put on a permanent footing by the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1949.

Lastly, I should like, on behalf of the Government, to take this opportunity of thanking past and present members of the W.L.A. and officers of the organisation for their loyal and devoted service through so many difficult years.