§ 34. Mr. Leslieasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether workers will be exempted from fire-watching in catering establishments where they are employed in many cases up to 70 hours per week?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Herbert Morrison)Men may be granted exemption by the Tribunals on grounds of exceptional hardship if they regularly work exceptionally long hours in such trades as catering. Women who regularly work such hours may be exempted by the appropriate authority for the premises.
§ Mr. LeslieIs my right hon. Friend aware that in certain hotels and restaurants there is a decided shortage at the present time, due mainly to the fact that they preferred to employ aliens before the war, that this shortage means excessive hours and that it is too bad to expect their employees to do fire-watching after working a 70-hour week?
§ Mr. MorrisonI shall be glad to consider that if my hon. Friend will be good enough to let me have particulars.
§ Mr. LeslieI will.