§ 77. Mr. Rileyasked the Home Secretary approximately the number of persons between the ages of 14 and 16 who are now working not more than 44 hours per week and the number between those ages who are still working more than 44 hours per week?
§ Mr. PeakeI am afraid no statistics are available as to hours actually worked, nor are up-to-date figures available as to the numbers of juveniles employed in different classes of factory. I may say, however, that on a rough estimate the position in July, 1938, was that about 197,000 juveniles under 15 and about 296,000 juveniles between 15 and 16 were employed in factories. Of these, approximately 40,000 and 60,000 respectively were employed in industries corresponding roughly with the classes of factories for which no decision has yet been reached as to the 44-hour week.