§ Mr. R. MACDONALDasked the Secretary for Scotland whether, as the result of his inquiries made into the employment of reformatory youths in a Glasgow munitions factory, their hours of labour per day have only been reduced from thirteen to twelve hours for the night shift and from ten to nine and a half for the day shift; whether those hours are the limits imposed upon able-bodied adults; whether he is satisfied in particular with the night-shift arrangements; whether he has satisfied himself that the youths have not to undertake additional work at school; and whether generally he has inquired into the heaviness of work done by these youths and is satisfied that it is either necessary or desirable?
§ Mr. MUNROUnder new arrangements which have been prescribed after consultation with the Ministry of Munition, no boy from the institution referred to by my hon. Friend will be employed for more than eight hours a day or forty-five hours a week, exclusive of meal times; no boys under sixteen will be employed on night work, and special attention will be paid to boys so employed to ensure that no undue strain is imposed by this form of work; boys will only work on munitions during alternate weeks, and the rule that they should not do work at school on days when they are employed on munitions will be continued; the school authorities will see that the work done by any boy is not too heavy for him. I am satisfied that the work of the boys is most useful, and that under the conditions which have been prescribed it is desirable that it should be continued. The new arrangements are all to be in operation by the 1st November.