§ MR. BELL (Derby)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the state of the hours worked by engine drivers, firemen, and goods and mineral guards during the month of July last, as shown by the Return published this week; if he is aware that on the railways at present 415 the hours worked by these grades are generally sixteen, increasing to thirty hours and upwards per shift of duty; and, in the interest of the safety of the employees and the travelling public, will he call for a Return of the hours worked by engine drivers, firemen, goods and mineral guards, and brakesmen for the month of January last, and take immediate steps to protect the men against the practice of being worked excessive hours.
§ (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Yes, Sir. I have carefully considered the Return in question. Those companies for which a high percentage is shown of hours in excess of twelve will be communicated with, and if necessary successive Returns will be obtained from such companies in order to test the steps taken to reduce the percentage. I may point out that the Return for July last, so far as relating to engine drivers, firemen, and goods and mineral guards, shows that, out of the total shifts of duty, those of thirteen hours and over amounted to one in twenty-two. From Returns obtained in consequence of specific complaints under the Act of 1893, I am aware that during the winter there have been on certain lines regrettably numerous instances of excessively long hours, some reaching the length mentioned by my hon. friend, but I have no reason to believe that such long hours can be said to be general. It must be admitted that climatic conditions and congestion of traffic have recently made it very difficult in some districts to avoid long hours, and I have good grounds for thinking that some companies, at all events, are earnestly endeavouring to reduce long hours to a minimum. The Board will certainly not relax their endeavours to secure that end, and I propose to call for a further general Return under the Act of 1889 for an early month.