HC Deb 29 March 1900 vol 81 cc700-1
SIR FORTESCUE FLANNERY (Yorkshire, Shipley)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the statement of Colonel Yorke, a Board of Trade inspector, in his Report upon a collision on the Great Western Railway which took place on the morning of the 27th December, 1899; whether he has noted a statement by Colonel Yorke to the effect that it is not always possible for the normal hours of work to be strictly adhered to at holiday seasons, but men who have been for fourteen or fifteen hours on the footplate can hardly be expected to display that unremitting vigilance which is necessary for safety; and whether it is the intention of the Government to propose legislation with a view to preventing danger to the lives of the travelling public by the working of excessive hours on the part of railway servants.

MR. RITCHIE

Yes, Sir. I have read the Report referred to, a copy of which was forwarded to the company immediately it was issued. As my hon. friend's question states, the Inspecting Officer, while commenting on the unduly long hours worked, inferred that they were caused by the Christmas traffic. The Railway Regulation Act of 1893 enables the Board of Trade to call upon any company to submit a schedule of reasonable hours, and these provisions are quite sufficient to enable the Board to deal, where necessary, with undue hours of work.

SIR FORTESCUE FLANNERY

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he would be willing to lay upon the Table of the House a Return showing all instances of working hours exceeding twelve continuously worked by the servants of the railway companies in England during the months of January and February, 1900.

MR. RITCHIE

I hardly think I should be justified in asking the railway companies for a Return which would involve very laborious examination, having regard to the fact that Parliament in 1893 approved legislation which enables railway servants and those who represent them to make complaints as to excessive hours of work, and in proper cases to obtain redress.

SIR FORTESCUE FLANNERY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that most of the railway companies have already prepared such a Return for their own information. Will he inquire?

MR. RITCHIE

Certainly; and if that is the case, of course the difficulty I speak of will not arise.