§ 71. Mr. CECIL HARMSWORTHasked the Home Secretary whether, under the terms of the Factories Acts, the hours of work in factories must be regulated as from the beginning of one complete hour to the end of another, half-hourly periods not being permitted; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation with a view to rendering possible more elastic and more convenient arrangements?
§ Mr. McKENNAUnder the Factory Act, the period of employment for women and young persons must begin at six and end at six, or begin at seven and end at seven, or (in the case of non-textile factories and workshops) begin at eight and end at eight. It is not permissible to make the period run from, say, 6.30 to 6.30; but there is nothing to prevent the employer making actual work commence, say, half an hour later or end half an hour earlier than the statutory limits; it is not unusual to do this and to allow the first half hour or last half hour, as the case may be, as a meal time. The present system has been in force since 1878.