§ Mr. KELLYasked the Home Secretary whether from reports of his inspectors, he has information as to the number of 51W firms working a five-day week; what effect this has on the health of the workers; and whether this method of working has been of advantage to the trades and industries?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have no exact information as to the extent to which the five-day week has been adopted, but reports show that there has been some increase in the number of firms working this system. The system has not, however, been adopted sufficiently widely to enable the Factory Department to form any reliable opinion as to its effect on the health of the workers. As to whether this method of working has been otherwise of advantage to industry, I can only say that certain firms have made the statement that output has improved as a result of its adoption and there seems to be no tendency to revert to the old system once the five-day week has been adopted.