57 and 58. Sir F. HALLasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether he is aware that, owing to the Import Duties Act, 1932, the services of customs officers, including watchers and lookers, at bonded warehouses and transit sheds after 4 p.m. will be requisitioned to a much larger extent than previously; and whether, therefore, he will consider the necessity for altering the hours of such customs officers, including watchers and lookers, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., working in two shifts, thereby synchronising with the hours worked by the dock, warehouse, and ship labourers;
(2) whether, seeing that the working hours of the dock, warehouse, and ship labourers, under the national agreement of April, 1919, were fixed at from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or two shifts of four hours each, and 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays, and as a result of the amount of overtime that it has been necessary to pay to customs officers, watchers, and lookers, whose services are required between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., he will take the necessary steps to arrange for the hours of customs officers at docks and warehouses to coincide with the hours worked by the dock, warehouse, and ship labourers?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Major Elliot)I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on the 10th March to a similar question by the hon. Member for South Bristol (Mr. Lindsay).
Sir F. HALLIs the Financial Secretary aware that in the reply to which he has referred no information was given as to whether or not it could be worked on the two shift basis? Considering that this is not an increase in the number of hours to be worked but only a change in the scope of the regulations, can he say that the Treasury will give careful consideration to the matter with a view to making the necessary alterations?
§ Major ELLIOTI will look into that point. I do not think that was raised in the previous question.
§ Mr. MOREINGWill the Financial Secretary consider meeting a deputation from the Docks and Harbours Association on this matter, in view of the great inconvenience caused at the ports?
§ Major ELLIOTI should be glad to talk that matter over with the hon. Member, but I would not like to give an undertaking here and now that I will see a deputation.
§ Mr. BROCKLEBANKCan the right hon. Gentleman say when he will be able to give an answer to the representations made to him by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board?
§ Major ELLIOTI am seeing the Mersey Members on Thursday, and I hope then to be able to discuss outstanding questions with them.
Sir F. HALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman recognise the importance of this matter in consequence of the Import Duties Act, and will he undertake to receive a deputation, in order that the whole matter may be carefully gone into?
§ Major ELLIOTI have indicated that I will have a conversation with the hon. Member for Preston (Mr. Moreing). I think that is the first step.
§ Sir PERCY HARRISIs this one of the advantages of the Import Duties Act?