HC Deb 23 March 1939 vol 345 cc1435-6
10. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to give the results of his inquiries into the conditions of employment in the foreign-owned firm, the Mossley (Lancashire) Woolcombing Company; and whether there are any regulations laid down by his Department to prevent such firms from lowering British standards of labour?

Mr. E. Brown

I am informed that certain male employés in the spinning section of this establishment may be required to work for 61 hours per week. The contention of the management is, I understand, that this arrangement is necessary in the interests of efficient and economical production and in order to avoid dismissals, but I am informed that the firm propose to review the arrangement at the end of an experimental period of three months.

Mr. Davies

Does not the right hon. Gentleman see now that 61 hours per week in any part of this country is really a very serious lowering of the standard of labour in this land? Will he answer the second part of the question, as to whether there is some arrangement to prevent foreign capitalists from coming into this country and lowering the standard of life of our workers?

Mr. Brown

This is entirely open and the firm is a non-federated firm, and it does not break any agreement.

Mr. Davies

Will the right hon. Gentleman say specifically whether, when foreign capitalists apply to the Home Office and his Department to come here to establish factories, they are told that they must conform with the conditions of employment here?

Mr. Brown

They are given all the information, but the hon. Member would be the first to complain if a Government Department did anything extra-legal.

Mr. Austin Hopkinson

Will my right hon. Friend do his best to ensure that these constituents of mine will not be thrown out of work?