§ Miss WILKINSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the long hours worked in hotels and boarding houses; and whether any steps can be taken to bring this employment under similar protection to that given by the Factories Acts?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. Complaints of long hours are received from time to time, but I have no definite information. Waiters and others 1397W who are employed wholly or mainly in serving customers in the public restaurants of hotels come within the scope of the Shops Acts, 1912 and 1913, and have the benefit of the weekly half-holiday and other provisions contained in those Acts. The ordinary domestic-work carried on in these establishments stands on quite a different footing, and while I should be prepared, of course, to consider any evidence of unsatisfactory conditions that might be bought to my notice, I do not think it would be practicable to deal with this class of employment on the lines of the Factory Acts.