§ 42. Mr. Brooksasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will take steps to limit statutorily the number of hours of overtime working in industry.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI do not think legislation would provide a practicable solution to the problem of overtime working, at the present time.
§ Mr. BrooksWhat is the practical solution then? Would my hon. Friend not agree that the amount of excessive, systematic overtime worked in industry has now become a soft option for both management and workers, which is a discouragement to high productivity and the growth of basic earnings? Is it not time to look at the very valuable suggestions contained in the research paper submitted to the Donovan Commission on this very point?
§ Mr. WalkerWe have had a very good look at Mr. Whybrew's paper, which condemned excessive overtime in industry. I share that condemnation of excessive overtime, but I think that it is a matter primarily for industry itself to resolve. The Government's policy on productivity bargaining, none the less, holds out incentives for reducing overtime as part of a productivity deal.