§ 21. Colonel VAUGHAN - MORGANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Rhineland High Commission has sanctioned the extension to occupied territory of the ordinances or regulations of the German Government abolishing an eight-hour day?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI understand the hon. and gallant Member to refer to the German emergency decree of 21st December, 1923. The German ordinances laying down the working day of eight hours expired on 31st December and the emergency decree of 21st December which replaced them maintained in principle the working day of eight hours, but authorised its extension to 10 hours under certain conditions. The Rhineland High Commission raised no objection to the application in the occupied territories of this decree, which accordingly came into force there on 22nd February.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEAs a matter of fact, they are working 10 hours a day at present?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat I do not know—if the conditions arise.