Harvest Labour

Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 28 Ionawr 1947.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Niall Macpherson Mr Niall Macpherson , Dumfriesshire 12:00, 28 Ionawr 1947

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional labour he intends to make available to farmers in Scotland for harvesting and potato-lifting in 1947.

Photo of Mr Joseph Westwood Mr Joseph Westwood , Stirling and Falkirk District of Burghs

The supplementary force of about 90,000 workers which will be required at the peak period will, under present proposals, be made up of 28,000 workers recruited locally by farmers, 40,000 members of the Polish Resettle-ment Corps, and German prisoners of war. Schoolchildren will, I hope, make up the balance of 22,000.

Photo of Mr Niall Macpherson Mr Niall Macpherson , Dumfriesshire

Can the right hon. Gentleman say to what extent so far he has obtained the consent of the local education authorities to the use of school-children?

Photo of Mr Joseph Westwood Mr Joseph Westwood , Stirling and Falkirk District of Burghs

The Joint Under-Secretary has just completed a series of conferences in Scotland, at which he has been putting the full facts before the education authorities who were represented there. At the moment, it looks as if we will get co-operation from the education authorities.