MR. FIELD () Dublin, St. PatrickI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in many drapers' establishments in London and elsewhere the assistants are compelled to commence work at nine in the morning 865 and remain until eleven at night; and whether any measures can or will be taken to prevent girls from being worked 14 hours in one day?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTI am afraid that there is no doubt that in some districts shop assistants are required to work for long hours, but the evidence which has been given before Committees of this House goes to show that a daily period of 14 hours is exceptional. The only restriction on the hours of employment of assistants in shops is contained in the Shop Hours Act of 1892, which limits the hours of young persons under 18 years of age to a period of 74 in the week. The enforcement of this Act lies not with the Home Office, but with the local authorities; that is to say, in London with the County Council.