§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if his attention has been called to the allegation that some of the employés in the gun factory at Woolwich were at the present time working 70 hours per week; and, if so, whether he has inquired into the circumstances, and what steps he has taken in the matter?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. WOODALL, Hanley)It is true that out of 460 men employed in the torpedo factory at Woolwich about 40 worked overtime for the purpose of completing a torpedo required very urgently by the Admiralty for experiments, delay in regard to which might have involved the suspension of work or serious reductions in the establishment. Of the 40 men who worked overtime more or less during a fortnight, nine in one week and six in the other made 70 hours in the week. All such overtime, however, ceased on November 25, and it is not expected that any fur- 646 ther occasion will arise for overtime on production now in hand.