§ Mr. LINFIELDasked the Minister of Pensions why an order has been issued lengthening the working week at the con- 1514W valescent centres of the Ministry of Pensions; and, in view of the fact that the men are suffering from an average disability of 50 per cent., wheher he will have the order rescinded?
Mr. MUIRI am glad to have the opportunity of removing the misapprehension which apparently exists on this matter. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to rescind the instruction referred to, the object of which was not, as suggested, to lengthen the working week or even to lay down a definite number of hours of training to be performed by each man, but to fix a uniformmaximum number of hours for all centres. The maxima had recently varied as between the different centres from 27½to 32½hours a week. They are now fixed at 30 a week with a break each morning of 15 minutes, the actualmaximumbeing thus 28¾hours per week. Within that limit the medical superintendent has full discretion to adjust the number of hours to be worked by any individual man according to his physical capacity and the requirements of his medical treatment.