26.
asked the Home Secretary whether, owing to the largely increased acreage under tillage, he will grant to teachers from Northern Ireland in Great Britain who can satisfy him that they have arranged with farmers to assist in harvesting operations during the summer holidays permits to enable them to travel to Northern Ireland for that purpose?
No, Sir. Under the change in the Regulations made last year such persons 'were allowed to pay two visits to Ireland in the 12-month period which commenced on 1st October, 1942. My hon. Friend appears to be asking that three visits should now be allowed, but I am not prepared to make this further concession.
Will the arrangements already entered into with Northern Ireland farmers to act as land girls and harvest workers, when their help is so much needed have to be cancelled owing to the slavish adherence to the letter rather than to the spirit of the law bearing on the granting of travel permits?
I am delighted, and the Minister of Agriculture will be delighted, to know that teachers are anxious to work on the land. If the hon. Member knows of any such cases, the Minister of Agriculture will be glad to fix them up in Great Britain.