HC Deb 31 May 1916 vol 82 c2711
93. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received representations from those directly concerned that Sunday labour in munitions factories has proved wasteful and uneconomic; whether Sunday labour prevails in a large proportion of the munitions factories; and whether he proposes to take any steps to stop it?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MUNITIONS DEPARTMENT (Dr. Addison)

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend to answer this question. As I have stated in previous replies, the whole question of the hours of labour in munition factories, and in particular the extent to which workpeople should be employed on Sundays, has received close attention, and action is regularly taken and is being taken to reduce the amount of employment on Sundays, or at least to provide that every person employed shall have one day's rest in seven. According to the latest returns available, out of 3,061 establishments, only 873 employ labour on Sundays for purposes of production. This includes 280 establishments employing labour on continuous processes connected with chemicals and furnaces.

Mr. PRATT

Are there any women workers who do not get one day's rest in seven at the present time?

Dr. ADDISON

I am not aware that there are.