§ 64. Mr. KELLYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of children, women, and young persons concerned in the Order, under Section 2 of the Act of 1920, for the working of the two-shift system by the Northern Sabulite Explosives Company, Limited, Haswell, Messrs. Ward and Goldstone, Limited, Salford, and Messrs. Middletons, Limited, Aberdeen?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Vivian Henderson)Only women and young persons of 16 years of age and over may be employed on this system. The numbers proposed to be so employed at the three works mentioned were 34, 10 and 6, respectively.
§ Mr. KELLYWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman make known the number of young people employed in these explosive works?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONI do not quite follow the point of the question put by the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Kelly). I have just given the figures.
§ Mr. KELLYThese figures include women as well as young people. The question which I wish to put is how many young people are employed at this explosive works—that is the first firm mentioned in my question—as there is grave anxiety concerning the employment of children, on the two-shift system, in connection with explosives?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONThe hon. Member, in the series of questions which are being put down upon this matter, continually refers to children, but no children are allowed to be employed under the two-shift system.
§ Sir V. HENDERSONIf the hon. Member wants more information perhaps he will put down another question or communicate with me.
§ Sir V. HENDERSONEight hours.