Mr. DAVIESasked the Home Secretary whether he will cause an inquiry into the operation of the two-shift system for women and young persons with a view to finding out the views of both employers and workpeople on the subject and in order to determine whether it may be necessary to continue the Act of 1921 in the Schedule of the next Expiring Laws Continuance Bill?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe operation of the two-shift system has ever since its inception been carefully watched by the Factory Department, and it has been one of the duties of the Women Deputy Superintending Inspectors in particular to make a special study of this Question. The results of these investigations are embodied in special sections of the Reports of the Chief Inspector of Factories for the years 1921 to 1924—see particularly pages 53 and 54 of the Report for 1924, which contain a summary of the views expressed by employers and workers. Those views of course vary, but on the whole they are favourable to the system and provision has been made for its continuance in Clause 74 of the Factories Bill. I do not think that any further inquiry is necessary.