§ Mr. HAROLD SMITHasked whether the word "occupier," in Clause 11 of the Shops Bill, includes the manager of a shop the business of which is not personally conducted by the employer?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am advised that the answer is in the negative, and that in such a case the employer is the occupier of the shop for the purposes of the Clause.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONMay I ask whether he will circulate a memorandum explaining the Amendments made to the Bill in Grand Committee, and the great changes that have been made in view of the Report, and those he proposes to make on Report?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Churchill)I shall be very glad to do so.
§ Mr. HAROLD SMITHasked whether bakers who worked on premises where a retail trade or business was carried on would come within the scope of the Shops Bill?
§ Mr. McKENNABy the definition in Clause 33 of the Bill, the term "shop assistant" includes only such persons as are wholly or mainly employed in a shop in connection with the serving of customers on the receipt of orders or the dispatch of goods. Persons, therefore, who are 15 engaged in the making of bread or other articles would not come within the scope of the Bill.
§ Mr. H. SMITHWould the right hon. Gentleman make some inquiry into their conditions of work, which are really tantamount to slavery, with a view to the possible inclusion of these men in the Bill?
§ Mr. McKENNAThey cannot be included, I understand, in the definition of shop assistants. There may be some other laws within whose scope they might be included.
§ Mr. H. SMITHI said with a view to including them in the Shops Bill.