HC Deb 26 June 1941 vol 372 cc1081-2
4. Viscountess Astor

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the success of day baking in various towns and the dangers of night baking during air raids, he will now reconsider the question of night baking with a view to prohibiting it for at least six hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., except in cases of national emergency?

Mr. Bevin

I am advised that day baking, which is not a new development though it may lately have increased, cannot be relied upon to obviate the necessity for a considerable amount of night baking, at any rate under war conditions, and I see no reason to depart from the conclusions given in my reply of 1st May to the hon. and learned Member for Greenock (Mr. R. Gibson), which I reached after going fully into the matter with representatives of the operatives and employers and the Ministry of Food.

Viscountess Astor

Is it not true that, with a few possible exceptions, bakehouses are empty six hours out of the 24? In that case, if the Minister prohibited baking between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. the bakehouses would be closed only six hours, as is already the case. Will he bear in mind that both Coventry and Birmingham are doing this and that there is no shortage of bread?

Mr. Bevin

I went into the whole question very carefully. If you make an order, it has to be enforced, but with the blitz and various other conditions that have arisen in this war I cannot see my way to making a universal order. The application made was not for hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., but between 11 and 4, but the transport facilities available at 4 do not seem to me to be such as would make it a workable proposition.

Viscountess Astor

If we can have it between 10 and 6, would the Minister be prepared to change that? He also said that in an emergency they would do anything necessary. Will he not reconsider the question again, as this is a really important matter?

Mr. Banfield

Will my right lion. Friend send this matter to the Minister without Portfolio with a view to seeing that this question is definitely settled?

Mr. Bevin

The machinery which exists in the trade between employers and trade unions makes it possible for them to send it to any Minister they desire. I was asked to deal with it under war conditions, and I came to the conclusion, having regard to the risks to the supply of bread, that I should not undertake to prohibit all-night baking under the conditions of air raids, etc.