§ Mrs. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many women workers are exempted from regulations prohibiting night and weekend shift working; how this compares with previous figures; what is the breakdown of exemptions in different industries; and on what basis exemptions are granted.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that, at 31st October 1975, a total of 45,820 (44,381) women were covered by special exemption orders permitting night shifts; 4,910 (7,388) women by orders permitting Saturday afternoon work and 47,735 (41,107) women by orders permitting Sunday work. The totals as at 31st October 1974 are given in brackets. The industrial 873W classification of these exemptions is appended.
Applications for special exemption orders are granted if they fulfil the statutory requirement of being in the public
Night shift 31st October Saturday afternoon work 31st October Sunday work 31st October 1975 1974 1975 1974 1975 1974 1. Food, drink and tobacco … … … 16,901 16,838 1,508 3,697 17,972 16,63 2. Coal and petroleum products and chemicals and allied industries … … … 883 676 201 274 3,124 2,875 3. Metal manufacture … … … … 873 1,258 112 — 440 438 4. Mechanical, instrument and electrical engineering … … … … … 6,776 5,963 1,207 510 11,975 8,410 5. Metal goods not elsewhere specified … 2,584 1,586 149 207 2,449 1,986 6. Hosiery and other knitted goods … … 110 186 — 4 481 281 7. Cottton, linen and lace … … … 848 749 18 81 1,234 539 8. Wool and worsted … … … … 1,175 1,950 20 20 272 126 9. Other textiles … … … … … 572 617 38 72 1,543 1,874 10. Clothing and footwear, leather goods and fur 121 84 37 33 1,661 1,071 11. Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc. … … 1,828 2,275 362 289 183 438 12. Timber, furniture, etc. … … … 110 74 — — 50 75 13. Paper, printing and publishing … … 2,078 2,315 665 1,279 3,292 2,683 14. Other manufacturing industries and miscellaneous services … … … … 10,961 9,810 593 922 3,059 3,672 Totals … … … … … … 45,820 44,381 4,910 7,388 47,735 41,107
§ Mrs. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what regulations limit the jobs which can be undertaken by women in engineering industries, particularly by trained women engineers.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe Factories Act 1961 as amended, the Hours of Employment (Conventions) Act 1936 and associated legislation regulate the hours, rest periods and holidays of women working in factories. The restrictions do not, however, apply to women holding responsible positions of management who are not ordinarily engaged in manual work. The above mentioned legislation applies to the engineering industry, and to trained women engineers in the same way as to others.
There are a number of other regulations made under the Factories Act 1961 which treat men and women differently such as those relating to working with lead and ionising radiations.
The Equal Opportunities Commission will, in consultation with the Health and Safety Commission, keep under review the discriminatory provisions in the health and safety legislation, and as my hon. Friend said in the House on 18th June
874Wthe Government are determined to see that at least a first review of all the provisions involved will be completed by the end of 1978".interest for the purpose of maintaining or improving the efficiency of industry or transport and provided that safety, health and welfare conditions are satisfactory and that the workers concerned are willing.