17. Viscountess ASTORasked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed 520 to introduce legislation on the lines of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Shop Assistants, or of that unanimous part of their recommendations relating to the limitation of hours of work of young persons?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe Bill promised in the King's Speech to regulate the hours of employment of young persons in the distributive trades is now being finally considered, and I hope that it will be possible to introduce it at an early date.
18. Viscountess ASTORasked the Home Secretary whether it is the intention of the Government to bring before Parliament at an early date a resolution authorising local authorities to make by laws relating to the hours and conditions of employment of juveniles?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs I have informed the Noble Lady on previous occasions, it is not the intention of the Government to take any steps to bring into operation Section 19 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933.
Viscountess ASTORThe Government promised upstairs, in the Committee on the Children Bill, that they would bring in a Bill to regulate the hours of work of children in unregulated trades. They gave us a definite promise.
§ Sir J. GILMOURThat promise was no doubt given, but was qualified with the statement "when the industrial situation improves."
Viscountess ASTORDoes the right hon. Gentleman really think that this House, of all Houses, wants children penalised by long hours because of the industrial situation? Does not he realise that if the Government would take the lead there are hundreds—I could guarantee 200—of hon. Members who would follow them into the Lobby in order to protect the hours of juveniles in unregistered trades?
§ Mr. MANDERDoes the right hon. Gentleman contend that the industrial situation has not improved?