§ 14. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Minister of Labour whether he is in a position to state how many workers there are in Britain who get six or more days holiday in the year with pay, including civil servants, municipal employées, and those in the employ of private firms?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe number of wage-earners covered by collective agreements between organisations of employers and workpeople providing for annual holidays with pay is estimated to be about 1,500,000. In nearly all cases these agreements provide for at least six days annual holiday with pay, apart from public holidays, after a qualifying period of service. Particulars of these agreements, with a list of the industries covered, were given in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for April, 1936. I am not in possession of information as to the extent to which paid holidays are granted to wage-earners in industries not covered by such collective agreements, or as to the number of salaried workers whose conditions of service include annual holidays with pay.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWill the Minister use his influence with the Government to see that, as the heavy industries, the key industries of this country, do not have holidays with pay, legislation is introduced to provide for them?
§ Mr. BROWNThe House has given a Second Reading to a Bill on this subject, and it will soon be considered in Committee.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWill the right hon. Gentleman see that those firms which are threatened with insolvency are provided with the money to pay for holidays?