asked the Minister of Labour what changes he is contemplating in the call-up of agricultural workers as the outcome of his recent discussions with the National Farmers' Union.

asked the Minister of Labour what changes have been agreed on in relation to the calling up of agricultural workers.

Hitherto short periods of deferment have been allowed subject to a maximum of 12 months at a time for stockmen and six months at a time for other workers. I propose that those periods should now become the normal instead of the maximum. It will also be permissible to allow up to 12 months in all cases where it is clear that a substitute cannot be found earlier. Applications for renewal will be granted without further reference to the advisory panels where circumstances remain unchanged if efforts to find a substitute have been unsuccessfully made.