HC Deb 30 July 1942 vol 382 cc658-9
1. Sir Leonard Lyle

asked the Minister of Labour whether the catering trade is included in the provision of the National Service Acts under which it is provided that, after the war, it is the obligation of the employer to reinstate employees under conditions not less favourable than when they left for war service; and whether he will postpone until after the war, when these employees are reinstated, any attempt to impose regulating machinery upon the industry?

The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Bevin)

The provisions of the National Service Acts regarding re-instatement do not distinguish between different trades and industries; and I am unable to agree that the existence of certain rights of reinstatement affords any ground for distinguishing between the catering and other employments in the need for regulation of terms and conditions of service.

Sir L. Lyle

Is it not a fact that the present Government were formed with the sole object of winning the war, and is it not highly undesirable that contentious legislation should be brought in unless it is absolutely necessary, and it is admitted that this is not necessary?

Mr. Bevin

One of the great contributions to winning the war is to make the people now engaged in fighting feel that they are going to return to proper conditions.