§ 23. Mr. Manderasked the Home Secretary what industries other than aerated waters it is contemplated may need the concession under the Factories Bill inserted with regard to special overtime?
§ Sir S. HoareI understand the hon. Member to refer to the amendment made on Report stage empowering the Home Secretary by Regulations to make certain variations in the conditions as to overtime employment of women so as to meet difficulties in trades liable to extreme pressure for quite short periods. I should be reluctant to encourage applications by naming particular industries; it must rest with those affected to make out a case for the issue of regulations, but we had particularly in mind factories in which Extreme pressure occurs at holiday seasons or just before Christmas.
27. Mr. Vyvyan Adamsasked the Home Secretary whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to discourage the working of overtime, especially by girls and women, in mills and factories?
§ Sir S. HoareThe view of the Government, as indicated in the Debates on the Factories Bill and as clearly shown in the terms of the Bill, is that overtime employment of women and young persons, that is, employment over and above a maximum normal week of 48 hours, ought to be strictly regulated and that the overtime of young persons in particular should be reduced to the lowest practicable limits. The Bill, therefore, provides not only for a large reduction in the amount of overtime which can be worked, and is in many cases being worked, under the present Act, but also makes provision for reducing the overtime in any particular industry wherever that can be done without serious detriment to the industry. Further, as my hon. Friend is aware, it does not permit any overtime employment of young persons under 16.