§ Mr. Isaacsasked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the representations made to him by organisations representing employers in the printing and bookbinding industry seeking exemption from the provisions in the Factory Act of 1937 which limit the hours of overtime of young persons; what was the nature of the proposals submitted; whether the views of the Joint Industrial Council of the industry or of the workers' organisations have been sought upon such proposals; whether any decision relating thereto has been reached; and, if so, the date of the communication of such decision to the employers' organisation?
§ Mr. PeakeThe employers asked for regulations to allow a longer working day, and more than six hours' overtime in a week, for women over 18 in not more than eight weeks in the year, to increase, for women only, the maximum overtime allowed in a year from 100 to 150 hours, and to allow overtime to take place in a factory in 40 weeks in a year.
1546WAny regulations of this kind would have to be issued in draft so as to give organisations concerned an opportunity of making representations in regard to the draft; but it was thought desirable, before proceeding with draft regulations, to consult informally some workers' representatives in the printing and bookbinding industries. The procedure followed appears to have given rise to some misunderstanding or difficulty, and the views of workers' representatives have not yet been received by my Department. I should welcome any help which the hon. Member can give in enabling such views to be obtained, whether at a conference with the Department or otherwise, at an early date.