Mr. Watkins:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give consideration to placing agricultural workers born in 1933 or later in the same category as those born before 1933 so that they may be free to change their employment provided that their new employment justified deferment on agricultural grounds so as to avoid the confusion there is at present in skilled workers being called-up through no fault of their own.

No, Sir, the present arrangements whereby agricultural workers born in 1933 or later are available for call-up ensure fairness with other sections of the community. Any such worker is available for call-up unless his employer applies for his deferment and establishes a case for it in respect of the contribution to food production made by him on the individual holding where he is employed.

Mr. Watkins:

Is not the Minister aware that this arrangement has been most unsatisfactory for the last two years and that it does not work in parts where agricultural labour is not available? Will he look at this again and consult the other people concerned in the industry?

The arrangements have, of course, been drawn up in consultation with both sides of the industry and with the Ministry of Agriculture. The basic difficulty is that whereas before there was a blanket deferment, it has been agreed that this should not be continued. If we were to adopt the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman, we should have blanket deferment again, because a man could go from job to job until he found an employer who was readily prepared to apply for his deferment.

asked the Minister of Labour the specific conditions of National Service deferment of agricultural workers, referred to in the current Ministry of Labour Gazette.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) on 1st November, 1955, of which I am sending him a copy.

Would the right hon. Gentleman not consider that in these specific conditions to which I have referred it is laid down that certain agricultural workers are tied not to the industry, but to the farmer or individual farm? Is he not aware that that very often creates embarrassing situations to both sides, and would he not simplify the procedure?

I am always prepared to look at procedure again, but these specific instances were, of course, relaxations and, as a result, a number of people have been deferred, at any rate for a period, from National Service.