§ 30. Mr. Rileyasked the Home Secretary how many textile factories, if any, in the West Riding of Yorkshire are working a two-shift system; and how many women and young persons are employed on a two-shift system in such factories?
§ Sir J. SimonThe number of textile factories in the West Riding in which women and young persons over 16 are employed on a two-shift system is 19 and the number of women and young persons so employed is rather over 1,000.
§ Mr. Rhys DaviesAre the numbers increasing or decreasing?
§ Sir J. SimonI shall want notice of that question.
Viscountess AstorWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that these children between 14 and 16 on the two-shift system are allowed to work eight hours between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., and does he not think that that is very bad for their health?
§ Sir J. SimonThere is a misunderstanding here. It applies to young people over 16.
§ 31. Mr. Rileyasked the Home Secretary in how many textile factories in the West Riding of Yorkshire women and young persons have been employed on overtime beyond 48 hours in any one week; and the approximate number of overtime hours so worked per week for the year ending 31st December, 1936?
§ Sir J. SimonI regret that the statistics for which the hon. Member asks are not available, but I am informed that a considerable amount of overtime beyond 48 hours was worked last year by women and young persons in the textile factories in the West Riding.
§ Mr. RileyWould it not be useful to get that information, in view of the fact that the Factories Bill is under discussion in Committee upstairs?
§ Sir J. SimonI should like to get any useful information which I can, and I have made an inquiry on the point. We did make an inquiry in certain trades, and I will see whether the material which we gathered can be made available for hon. Members.