§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special exception notices were received by factory inspectors from occupiers within the metropolitan district during 1908 on which the intention to work varying periods of overtime under section 29 of the Factory and Workshop Act was stated; whether, if any such notices were received, they were accepted by the inspectors as regular; whether such notices have been sent in since June last and have been accepted; and whether the Home Office now admits that on these notices the overtime period may be entered in such a manner as to leave it to the discretion of the employers whether such overtime shall be worked either before or after, or both before and after, the ordinary period of employment?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Gladstone)No special exception notices have been received in the metropolitan districts during the periods mentioned announcing the occupier's intention to work varying periods of overtime. Any such notices, however, would be accepted as regular. The exception allowed by the overtime section—section 49—is to work either from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., or 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., or 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., without specifying whether the additional period shall be before or after the ordinary period of employment worked; and it is open to the occupier to work different overtime periods on different days if he chooses to do so, provided, of course, that due notice is given and the prescribed records are kept of the periods actually worked.