§ 111. Mr. Symondsasked the Minister of Works if he is aware that a large amount of fuel is being wasted by the heating of offices on Saturdays when they are in use for only a few hours in the mornings; and if he will give, in the case of Government Departments other than at the centre an approximate estimate of the fuel economy which would result from the rearrangement of their working hours inside a five-day week.
§ Mr. TomlinsonApproximately 280,000 tons of fuel are used yearly for heating all except headquarters Government offices, and it is estimated that a five-day week would save 6 per cent. or 17,000 tons of fuel yearly. The rearrangement of working hours must take account of factors other than fuel consumption and I cannot accept the inference that fuel is necessarily wasted by the heating of offices on Saturdays.