§ 16. Mr. R. J. RUSSELLasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the labour conditions at the York beet-sugar factory, where members of the staff are working 12 hours a day for seven days a week during the beet-lifting period from September to January, and where Sunday labour is 14 being largely continued during the rest of the year; and whether he will make representations to stop such unnecessary Sunday labour?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI am informed that, except when the day and night shifts are changed, only the salaried senior technical staff are required to work longer than eight hours a day during the beet-sugar campaign and that this is necessary to preserve continuity as between one shift of workers and the next. The beet-sugar manufacturing process is a continuous operation from the time the raw beet enters the factory at one end until it comes out as sugar at the other and during this process Sunday labour is essential. As regards the rest of the year, this factory refines raw sugar, the product not being entitled to subsidy. I understand, however, that no employé is required to work longer than eight hours a day and that only in exceptional circumstances is Sunday labour necessary.