§ MR. ARTHUR HENDERSON (Durham, Barnard Castle)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the International Convention signed at Borne in September last applies to the night-work of women generally; whether, in addition to the two instances mentioned in the Memorandum, it extends to women employed in laundries; and, if so, whether this occupation will be included in the Bill to be presented to Parliament.
§ MR. GLADSTONEThe Convention applies to night-work in industrial undertakings. The definition of "industrial undertaking" is left to each State to settle, but it must in every case include mines and quarries and industries in which articles are manufactured or materials transformed. The Convention imposes no obligation in respect of the hours of work in laundries. I propose to deal with that subject in the Bill which I hope to introduce next session to regulate the conditions of employment in laundries, and not in the Bill which 1712 will be introduced to fulfil the requirements of the Berne Convention.