HC Deb 09 July 1936 vol 314 cc1370-1
6. Mr. RILEY

asked the Minister of Labour the number of industries in this country in which agreements have already been reached providing for annual holidays with pay; and whether he can specify the industries and, approximately, the number of workers affected?

Mr. E. BROWN

A list of the industries in which collective agreements are known to be in operation providing for annual holidays with pay for manual workers was given in the Ministry of Labour Gazette for April, 1936. The number of manual workers covered by such agreements cannot be stated exactly, but is estimated at about 1,500,000.

Mr. LYONS

Is this one of the matters which are coming under constant survey in the discussions which the Minister is having with industrial representatives; and will it, when a precis of those conversations is published, be dealt with more fully?

Mr. WATKINS

Will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with those industries that do not provide this arrangement, in order that they may do so at the earliest possible moment?

Mr. BROWN

I have already promised a White Paper on the subject as a whole when we get the report of the decision at Geneva.

Viscountess ASTOR

Will the Minister bear in mind that it is necessary to do something more than bring it to the notice of employers; and will the Government take action on their own initiative, and not be forced by the Socialists to do it?

Sir NAIRNE STEWART SANDEMAN

Does not this sound as though people were trying to reduce the pay of the workers?

37. Mr. RILEY

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether all regular manual and non-manual employés in the service of the State already enjoy annual holidays with pay; and, if so, what is the approximate number of persons affected?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. W. S. Morrison)

All whole time civil employés in the direct service of the State, manual and non-manual, are allowed annual holidays with pay, subject, in some instances, to a qualifying period of service. The number of persons affected is approximately 445,000.