§ 6. Mr. Douglasasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that 200 326 women have recently left an engineering works, the name of which has been supplied to him, owing to the work being organised on the basis of two shifts of 12 hours each; and whether he will endeavour to avoid such a method of organisation in industries where women's labour is needed?
§ Mr. BevinI understand that a system of day and night shifts was recently instituted in place of two day-shifts, about 250 out of 700 of the women being put on the shift system, with five nights in alternate weeks, and the remainder on day work only. A number of married women objected to night work on the ground of domestic responsibilities, and some of the workers have been allowed to leave, though my information does not confirm the figure of 200. I am making further inquiry into this particular case.