Mr. LANS BURYasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that, according to the latest Board of Trade report on the subject of work and wages, it is not the custom for workpeople employed in the great staple industries to be paid wages for public or other holidays; is he also aware that the fixing of Thursday and Friday, 22nd and 23rd June, as public holidays 35 will in many cases mean that the 24th will also be taken as a holiday, thus entailing the loss of three days' wages; and whether, under these circumstances, he will consider what steps can be taken by legislation, or otherwise, to mitigate the hardship such loss of wages will inflict on many thousands of poor families?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI can add nothing to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member in reply to a similar question on 8th March.
§ Mr. LANSBURYSeeing the amount of suffering involved in these enforced holidays, will the right hon. Gentleman give the House an opportunity of discussing the matter before the Coronation?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have expressed the hope and belief that employers would take all these matters into consideration.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that official reports in the Library state emphatically that it is not the custom of employers to take these matters into consideration at all, and that the workers will have to lose three days' pay; and whether he thinks that is a very excellent method by which to promote loyalty to the Crown in this country?