§ Mr. BRYCEasked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that in the cordite cannon cartridge factory danger buildings at Woolwich there has lately been introduced for the women workers a seven-night shift of eleven hours, alternating with a six-day shift of eleven hours, which, with the allowance for meals of an hour and a half per shift, means a week of sixty-six and a half hours' work alternating with one of fifty-seven hours' work; that the seven-night shift deprives the women of the week-end which they had under the former six-night shift; that under the new system the women, especially those living at a distance, are so completely exhausted as to be obliged to spend all their off-time in sleep, thus depriving such of them as have families of all chance of seeing their children; that the effect of the inhalation and absorption lay the skin of the vapours given off by cordite is to produce a drowsy exhaustion which lessens efficiency, and that, consequently, greater efficiency would be secured by shorter hours; whether, even under present conditions, the out-turn of the women exceeds that of men doing similar work; whether the average wages of the women are, notwithstanding, only About half that of the men; and whether he will appoint an independent committee, of which at least two members should be women doctors, to investigate and report upon the conditions of women's work at Woolwich?
§ Colonel LEEIt is the case that a system of seven-night shifts of eleven hours, alternating with six-day shifts of eleven hours, has recently been introduced for female operatives in the cordite cannon cartridge factory at Woolwich. The system is an extension of a practice already in force in these works under which women have been working for some time, and it provides for a break of twenty-four hours at each week-end. The question of hours of work at Woolwich generally is now receiving special consideration, and an investigation is being made on behalf of the Health of Munition Workers Committee and the Home Office Factory Department into the conditions of work as affecting the health of the workers. This will be pushed forward with the utmost possible expedition.