§ Sir JOHN HARMOOD-BANNERasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the enlistment of men engaged in the wire trade, and consequent reduction of production, he will consider the propriety of giving special permission for the employment of young persons at night in the process of continuous wire-drawing, it being impossible, in view of the course of manufacture, to employ hands in the day whose employment is forbidden at night, and consequently difficulty being created in supplying Government and other trade orders?
§ Mr. McKENNAThis matter is at present receiving consideration. I may mention that several Wire Works have been granted orders under Section 150 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, permitting them to employ male young persons temporarily on night shifts in the process of continuous wire-drawing for the purpose of accelerating the work being done under Admiralty and War Office contracts, and I am prepared to entertain further applications for such orders in any similar cases.