§ MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is the case that at the Royal Gun Factories at Woolwich double shift is being worked, the day-shift men working 53 hours per week and the night-shift men 57½ and will he explain why, seeing that these hours of labour are a violation of the eight-hours day understanding, the representations made by the men against these hours have been disregarded?
§ *THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. W. WOODALL, Hanley)Double shifts are being worked by a limited number of men in certain sections of the Royal Gun Factory, the hours being as stated in the question; but the class of work on which these men are employed was specifically exempted from the 48-hours week at the time of its introduction into the Ordnance factories generally. Representations have not been disregarded; on the contrary, a deputation on the subject was promptly received, and I am glad to be able to state that the men whom it will be necessary still to employ on day and night shifts will in both cases receive additional pay for the longer hours worked.
§ *MR. WOODALLMy hon. Friend will perfectly well understand that in certain kinds of work it is necessary that the machines should be employed continuously, and so the number of hours in this particular department have been longer than in the case of the ordinary work of the factory. But compensation is allowed to the men for the extra hours so worked.
§ MR. ALLANasked how that was possible when there was a distinct understanding that the hours of work should be 48 per week. He would be glad to know what machines it was necessary to work 53 hours per week as against 48?
§ *MR. WOODALLI am told that in the boring of guns any interruption in the work may affect the boring and be prejudicial to the proper execution of the work, but I shall be glad to discuss the whole matter with my hon. Friend.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!