§ Mr. JOHN DAVISONasked theHome Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the hours for which young persons may be employed under the Factory and Workshops Acts are excessive and have not been altered for many years, that large numbers of young persons employed in industries notunder these Acts are without any legal limitation of hours whatever, and of the injury to their physical development and education which is caused by the resulting over-work, he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation to ensure that no young person shall be employed in any industry for more than 40 hours in any week, and that the employment of young persons between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. shall be prohibited?
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§ Mr. SHORTTIt would not, I think, be practicable to impose either of the restrictions suggested by the hon. Member without discrimination, but I fully agree that the hours of employment of young persons ought to be more strictly regulated. Legislation is specially needed for the protection of young persons engaged in occupations outside the provisions of the Factory and Mines Acts, and a Bill for this purpose has been drafted which I hope to introduce at an early date.