§ 14. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the waitresses in Lyons' teashops worked for 12 hours at a stretch on the occasion of the Cup Final at Wembley; whether these hours are their usual working hours or only for special occasions; whether, in view of this apparent hardship suffered by the waitresses, he is still satisfied with the decision that special boards are not necessary in the catering trades; and what action he proposes to take to prevent the employment of women for such abnormal hours?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland)I have no information as to the hours or wages of these waitresses on the occasion of the Cup Final, nor have any complaints been addressed to me. If the hours worked were as stated they were certainly in excess of those usually worked.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWould the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the last part of my question? This evidence was given to me direct.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIf the hon. and gallant Member will give me evidence, I shall be very glad to consider it and as regards the last part of his question, it depends on the answer to the foregoing. It would also depend on whether the case was entirely abnormal or whether it was partly normal as regards the hours worked.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhat does the right hon. Gentleman mean by "evidence"? Have I to bring the waitresses themselves?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIf the hon. and gallant Member wishes to do so, I shall be glad to hear the evidence, but that is not necessary. He can give me particulars of the hours and the various other information on paper in the first instance.
Viscountess ASTORDoes not the right hon. Gentleman know that the wages paid by Lyons, and the hours of their workers, are better than almost any other in the trade; but is it not also true that in no industry is a Trade Board more necessary than in the catering industry, because the wages are perfectly outrageous?
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the figures which he himself published last year, less than 1 per cent. of the catering trade employés are organised in trade unions and that there is no body to act for them?
§ Mr. KELLYIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's first reply and the unsatisfactory conditions in Lyons' and other places, is he prepared to set up a Trade Board in this industry?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot discuss Trade Boards on this question.