§ 9. Mr. HARDIEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the number of unemployed engineers in Glasgow, he will arrange for a reduction in the number of hours worked by engineers on the Clyde pleasure steamers during the summer months?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER:The Board of Trade have no power to regulate the hours of work on board ship, and could only intervene if there were reason to think that the manning arrangements were such as to cause inefficiency or danger. It is not, therefore, possible to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the fact that there is danger from these men having to work too long hours, not getting enough sleep, and taking the piers as they have to take them in the locks—which is becoming a dangerous business—and does he not consider from that, point of view that he ought to intervene?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER:No, Sir. I am not aware that in this case there are any circumstances which would entitle me to intervene. There is this further consideration: That I understand these men are paid a regular salary year in and year out—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—and that they are only employed at certain times of the year.
§ Mr. JOHNSTON:Will the right hon. Gentleman not say whether he considers that 90 hours a week for engineers when there are thousands of engineers unemployed is not a scandal and a disgrace?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERWhat one ought to consider is what work men who are employed permanently, and paid the whole year round, are doing in respect of that pay? It would not surely add to the number of the employed to throw these men out of work when the steamers are not running.
§ Mr. MAXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman direct the special attention of his inspectors to the conditions of work of these men to see if they are, in fact, in accordance with public safety?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTEROh, certainly, Sir. Not only here but in all cases it is the duty of the inspectors to see that safety provisions are properly enforced.