HC Deb 16 May 1916 vol 82 cc1343-4
42. Mr. ANDERSON

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he will state the lumber of hours worked per week, and the length of the working day, by the women employed at the controlled establishment of Messrs. Vickers, Maxim, at Lancaster; and whether these hours are in conformity with the recommendations of the Committee appointed by the Minister to deal with the welfare of munition workers?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of MUNITIONS (Dr. Addison)

The hours worked by women per week at the controlled establishment of Messrs. Vickers, Maxim, at Lancaster, are sixty-one and half during the week on day shift and sixty per week on night shift; the length of the day and night shift is ten and a half and ten hours respectively, these periods including overtime. The hours on the day shift are one and a half hours beyond those recommended by the Health of Munitions Workers' Committee, and I am informing the firm that, except in cases of emergency, the Minister of Munitions is not prepared to sanction a total of hours worked by women from week to week in excess of the maximum recommended by the Committee.