HC Deb 24 March 1942 vol 378 cc1796-7
29. Mr. Purbrick

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of overtime paid in his Department for the last month for which figures are available; and has any improvement been made in the peace-time system of checking overtime to ensure that the worker has fully worked 100 per cent. in his ordinary time before working overtime?

Mr. Dalton

The amount of overtime paid in the Board of Trade for January, 1942, was £6,960. The introduction of the longer working week has made it possible to redistribute work, thus releasing officers for service elsewhere and minimising further recruitment. Strict instructions have been given that, in war as in peace, overtime is not to be worked unless it is really necessary, and that the staff must be fully occupied throughout the day.