§ 15 and 16. Mr. TAYLORasked the Home Secretary (1) whether he will consider the desirability of altering the terms of reference of the proposed Departmental Committee on the Shops (Early Closing) Acts, 1920 and 1921, so as to permit consideration being given to the hours of labour of shop assistants and workers in the catering trades;
(2) if he will consider the advisability of amending the terms of reference of the proposed Departmental Committee on the Shops (Early Closing) Acts, 1920 and 1921, so that consideration may be given to the desirability or otherwise of local closing orders under the 1912 Shops Act being made at an earlier hour than seven o'clock on week nights?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSWhen settling the terms of reference to the Committee, I considered very carefully the scope of the inquiry, and decided that it would be best to restrict it to the specific question on which serious public controversy has arisen, and on which an early decision is necessary, and to reserve other issues for consideration after the Committee has reported.
§ Mr. TAYLORIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, when the hours were extended in the confectionery trade, several hours a week were added to the 1892 labour of a large number of women and young persons, and does he not think that, if the Acts are to be modified, the terms of reference should include terms which will enable the Committee to give consideration to the hours of so many young people?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe only Acts which would be modified, assuming that the House accept the Report of the Committee, are the Acts of 1920 and 1921, commonly known as D.O.R.A., and it is these Acts that I am asking the Committee to consider and report upon.
§ Mr. TAYLORAre the terms of reference, including the words "with modifications," sufficient to enable the Committee to consider the question of hours, and give some protection particularly to young persons?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI hardly like to prejudge the meaning of the terms of reference, but I thought they were fairly clear—
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 modification.That clearly relates to the question whether the Acts of 1920 and 1921 should be abrogated altogether or, if made permanent, should be made permanent with or without modification.
§ Mr. TAYLOR rose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe have a large number of questions to deal with to-day.