HC Deb 02 April 1928 vol 215 cc1589-90
41. Mr. KELLY

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of young people employed in the hotel and catering trades, and the normal weekly hours worked by these young people?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Betterton)

; The number of juveniles in Great Britain aged 16 and 17 insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts and classified as belonging to the group—hotel, boarding house, restaurant and club service—at July, 1927, was 19,450, of whom 1,160 were recorded as unemployed at 20th February, 1928. Statistics are not available regarding the normal weekly hours of all the persons in this group, but in 1925 it was found that in the non-licensed catering section the weekly hours of the majority of workers under 18 years of age were between 46 and 51.

Mr. KELLY

Does the hon. Gentleman intend to make any further inquiries with a view to bringing the information relating to the hours up-to-date?

Mr. BETTERTON

No, Sir. The Minister of Labour answered a very similar question a short time ago in which he said that no further facts had been brought to his notice to justify further inquiries.