§ 2. Mr. McSHANEasked the Minister of Labour whether, with regard to situations offered to unemployed women at seaside boarding-houses, she has yet issued any instructions to her officers requesting that the hours to be worked and the wages to be paid shall be stated on paper; and whether, in the absence of information as to hours, no such situation shall be offered?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a similar question on the 2nd June to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. McSHANEIn reply to that question, the right hon. Lady said that the applicant had the opportunity of justifying herself before the court of referees, and, as it is impossible for her to do so in respect of hours, which are a vital factor, how is it possible at all for the lady concerned to refuse a situation and at the same time justify herself before the court of referees?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI do not admit the statement that it is impossible to raise the question of hours.
§ Mr. McSHANEHow is it possible for the claimant to raise the question of hours, when, as a matter of fact, she does not know what the hours are, and it is notorious that they are overworked at the seaside?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIf the claimant is referred by the insurance officer to the court of referees, all those are relevant facts to be brought before the court of referees.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI cannot allow questions to develop into an argument.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs not the right hon. Lady aware that the girls who are sent to seaside boarding houses are compelled to sleep four in a bed when there is only room for one?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIf a fact of that kind——
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question refers to wages and hours.
§ Mr. DAYAre any inquiries made into the sleeping conditions and whether they are taken into account in fixing the wages?