HC Deb 08 February 1940 vol 357 cc385-6
23. Mr. Leslie

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the decision of the Government to extend the opening hours of shops after Easter, he will now give effect to the findings of the joint committee dealing with conditions in the distributive trades so as to safeguard to some extent the interests of shop assistants?

Mr. E. Brown

Following on a meeting I had with the joint committee, the question whether this scheme, as put forward, is practicable in war-time, or, if not, whether any suitable modifications can be made in it, is still under consideration.

Mr. Leslie

Is the Minister aware that thousands of young men in the distributive trades are being called to the Colours and their places are being taken by women? Sorely it is time that some consideration was given to the assistants case, instead of it all being concentrated upon the alleged inconvenience of the shopping public?

Mr. Brown

That is not the issue we are discussing. We are discussing the whole of the conditions in the trade, and the point we have recently been considering is whether these alterations and others have modified in any way the views of responsible bodies as to the scheme.

Mr. Leslie

A year has gone by since the Minister said he was giving sympathetic consideration to this report and nothing has yet been done.