§ 9. Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELasked the Minister of Labour whether, with reference to the Report of the International Labour Office that in the United States of America electric furnace men worked 14 hours a shift, crane men 14 hours on the night shift and 10 hours on the day shift for seven days a week, and that many labourers worked 16 hours a shift, she will state the number of hours worked per day or week by those employed in similar trades in the United Kingdom?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe latest statistics in the possession of the Ministry of Labour as to the normal weekly hours of labour of workpeople in the steel industry in this country are those compiled as the result of inquiries made in respect of October, 1924, and published on page 285 of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for August, 1926, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. SAMUELI did not ask where they were published; I was drawing attention to the report of the International Labour Office, with which I think the right hon. Lady is in correspondence at Geneva?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe question was whether I would 344
state the number of hours worked per day or week by those employed in similar trades in the United Kingdom.My answer to that was to refer the hon. Gentleman to the document where the figures are to be found.
§ Mr. SAMUELIn view of that reply, may I ask if the United States enforce the eight-hour day, and one day rest in these cases?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI am not in a position to answer that question.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDo not these terrible figures show the result of protection for the steel industry?
§ 10. Mr. SAMUELasked the Minister of Labour if she will describe, approximately, the types of steel articles produced by the steel plants in the United States of America in which the International Labour Office reports that the workers are on a 12-hour day and work seven days a week?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI have no particulars beyond those given in the Report to which the hon. Member refers.
§ Mr. SAMUELIs there, therefore, any wonder that we find difficulty in producing engineering goods for export when we have conditions of this kind?
§ Miss BONDFIELDMay I point out that the figures given in this document, are given as the result of certain investigations in particular cases. They cover abnormal hours of work, and, if the hon. Gentleman makes inquiries in the steel trades of this country, he will find that there are occasions in the year when they also work longer shifts.
§ Mr. SAMUELAre there any cases in this country where they work seven days a week and 12 hours a day?