§ 5. Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Labour whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the conditions of labour among newspaper circulation canvassers, particularly with regard to the actual hours worked in contrast to those contracted for?
§ Mr. E. BrownI have no information regarding any recent difficulties in connection with employment of the kind mentioned. If the hon. Member will send me particulars of the cases he has in mind I shall be prepared to consider the matter.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister aware that these canvassers, besides the ordinary working day, have to work several hours at night filling in forms, and that they have to give away papers free in order to keep their jobs, thus creating an artificial circulation; and is he aware that the "Express" and the "Daily Mail" are the worst offenders?
§ Mr. BrownI would not accept that statement at all in advance of evidence. Perhaps the hon. Member will give me the evidence on which he bases his statement. The dispute two years ago did not refer to those two papers at all.
§ Mr. G. GriffithsIs the Minister aware that the "Express" paid £750,000 last year on this job?