§ 46. Mr. Robensasked the Minister of Labour how many permissions have been granted, and are at present in operation, to night bakeries for the employment of part-time women workers under the Factories (Evening Employment) Order, 1950; how many work-people are affected; by whom they are employed; and in which bakeries.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Robert Carr)Permissions under the Factories (Evening Employment) Order may be granted by 1170 district inspectors of factories without reference to Headquarters and the information is not immediately available. I am asking inspectors to report and will write to the right hon. Member.
§ Mr. RobensMay I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he is aware of a growing practice in the bakery industry to take advantage of the Act by dismissing full-time employees and employing part-time female workers merely for the six to ten o'clock shift? Does not he agree that this was not the intention of the Order, and will he ask his inspectors to look into this practice?
§ Mr. CarrI will certainly keep that in mind, because it is our intention to make certain that the Act is operated as it should be.