§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the Postmaster General, if he will state the percentage reduction in the hours to be worked by the men employed in the Telegraph Factories of Holloway and Mount Pleasant from 1st March next over those worked now; whether the hours under the new system will be the same each day throughout the year; what will be the maximum hours (including meal times) in any one day from the commencement to the leaving off of work; and, whether overtime will be allowed under any circumstances?
§ MR. A. MORLEYSpeaking generally, the reduction in the hours to be worked by the men employed in the Telegraph Factories at Holloway and Mount Pleasant is from 54 to 48 hours per week, being about 11 per cent. As far as I can at present say, the hours will be the same each day from Monday to Friday throughout the year, with a short day on Saturday. The maximum hours, excluding overtime, but including an hour for dinner, will not exceed 9¾ at either factory; but I cannot bind myself to any precise details at present. The hon. Member will see that I could not undertake that overtime will not in any circumstances be worked, but it is intended to avoid it as far as possible.