§ 14. Mr. Banfieldasked the Home Secretary whether he has given further consideration to the report of the Committee of Inquiry into night baking; and can he make a statement on the matter?
§ Mr. LloydYes, Sir. The report was by a majority against statutory prohibition of night baking, but suggested that some recognised body should be set up on which representatives of both sides of the trade would meet together and devise means for improvement of conditions. As the hon. Member is au are, negotiations for this purpose have already been opened by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour. At a conference attended by representatives of the two sides of the trade on 21st September, it was unanimously agreed to set up two committees —one for England and Wales and one for Scotland—consisting of representatives of the employers' and workpeople's organisations, to formulate a scheme for securing the effective joint regulations of wages and working conditions and to report back to the full conference. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary thinks it will be advisable before making any further statement to await the outcome of these negotiations.
§ Mr. BanfieldWill the hon. Gentleman be good enough to point out to his right hon. Friend that a pledge was-given both by himself and his predecessor that some steps would be taken on the lines of the report; and, if it is impossible to give us the abolition of night baking, would his right hon. Friend consider giving us statutory legislation to implement the alternative set out in the report?
§ Mr. LloydI will certainly communicate the statement of the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend, but I think that the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that our desire is to make the improvement as speedily as possible.