23. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Minister of Labour what was the maximum number of hours of overtime worked per day, per week, and per month, respectively, during June by an individual employed in the north-eastern division of Employment Exchanges?
§ Mr. BETTERTONOn Thursday last information regarding average overtime worked in June in the north-eastern division was furnished to the hon. Member. The further information asked for in this question is not available, and I do not consider I should be justified in authorising the very considerable expenditure of time and money which would be involved in attempting to obtain it.
Mr. THOMSONIs the hon. Gentleman satisfied that an excessive amount of overtime is not being worked in some of these northern Exchanges?
§ Mr. BETTERTONMy right hon. Friend is satisfied that the present arrangements are wholly adequate. What happened, as I stated yesterday, was that at the beginning of June there was a good deal of overtime, but this is now being gradually reduced.
§ 25. Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the pressure of work in the Employment Exchanges and of the amount of overtime which has to be worked by the staffs to cope with it; and what steps he is taking to alleviate the conditions?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThis matter has been dealt with in a number of replies to questions in the course of the past week. In particular, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 22nd July to the hon. Members for Middlesbrough West and Bethnal Green (South-West), on 27th July to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough East, and yesterday to the hon. Member for Gravesend.
§ Major HORE-BELISHAIs it being remedied?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThat point was answered with the last question.