§ 42. Mr. WOOLCOCKasked how many young persons are now being employed in the evening or at night contrary to the Factory and Workshop Acts but under powers of exemption possessed by the Home Office under the War Emergency Laws; and between what hours are these young persons working, in what occupations, and in what localities?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe only young persons now working at night under Emergency Orders are lads of 17 years of age—numbering about 60 to 70—who are employed at wire drawing works. As regards evening employment, Orders have been granted to a number of works permitting them to employ young persons on a system of morning and afternoon shifts. These shifts average not more than 8 hours and, except in a few special cases, are arranged between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Between two and three thousand young persons were reported at the beginning of this year to be employed on this system. The works are distributed among a large variety of industries and are scattered over the whole country.