asked the Minister of Labour if he will offer release to the 23,000 officers and men in the three Services who are covered by the Ministry of Labour classification "agricultural trades," so that they can re-enter the agricultural industry, and thus avoid the employment of foreign labour.

As my right hon. Friend has previously explained, experienced farm workers have not been called up since February, 1946, and those who were called up before that date have already been offered release to return to agriculture. It is not proposed to extend this arrangement to other men classified as in agricultural or allied occupations who are not in fact experienced farm workers or who have voluntarily entered into regular engagements.