HC Deb 10 February 1927 vol 202 cc259-60
6. Mr. TAYLOR

asked the Home Secretary whether he has decided to appoint a Departmental Committee to consider the question of shops hours legislation; and, if so, whether he can state the terms of reference?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

Yes, Sir, I am setting up a Departmental Committee, with the following terms of reference: To inquire into the working of the Shops (Early Closing) Acts, 1920 and 1921, and to consider and report whether it is desirable that those Acts should or should not be made permanent, and if made permanent whether with or without modifications.

Mr. TAYLOR

Has the right hon. Gentleman yet decided on the personnel of the Committee, and, if not, may I ask whether it will be representative of the interests of traders, assistants and the general public?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I think I have got a chairman who will command the support of the whole House; he is not a member of the House, but he has rendered very eminent public service. I have decided on some of the members of the Committee, but the Committee is not yet complete, or I should have announced it.

Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALD

Would the right hon. Gentleman tell us what type of person he is going to appoint to this Committee? Is it going to be what he would call an impartial depart- mental personnel or are the various interests to be represented?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I considered very seriously which kind they should be, and I thought the better course would be to have the second type, so that various interests would be represented.

Sir FRANK MEYER

May I ask whether the proceedings of this Committee will be open?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

Oh, that will be a matter for the Committee to decide. It is always left to them.

Sir JOSEPH NALL

May I ask whether the Committee will be empowered to consider the possible regulation of the hours of shop assistants as distinct from the actual closing of the shops?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I am not asking them to consider the old early closing Acts; that, I think, the House would not wish for. I am only asking them to consider the questions which have been referred to—the application of "D.O.R.A." to those two Acts.

Sir J. NALL

As one of the factors affecting the general question of early closing will be the hours of assistants, will they be inquired into, with a possibility of regulating them?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I have drawn this reference sufficiently wide, I think, to enable the Committee to consider whether any modifications are needed in what we call, for convenience sake, "D.O.R.A." and "D.O.R.A. Acts," and, if so, they will report to the House what modifications they consider necessary and the House can then take them into consideration.

Mr. TAYLOR

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the intention of the Government to include shop assistants and commercial employ6s in any general legislation for the ratification of the 48 hours week under the Washington Convention?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I am afraid that question does not arise.

Mr. SPEAKER

That question should be put on the Paper.