§ Mr. Parkerasked the Home Secretary what representations he has received from manufacturers asking him to suspend the coming into force of Section 71 of the 1937 Factory Act on 1st July, 1939, and to suspend Section 73; and what answer he has given?
§ Sir S. HoareI have no power to suspend either of these Sections; but Section 71 contains a provision that the coming into force of the Section is postponed as respects any particular industry where a public inquiry has been ordered but no final decision has been reached on the question of fixing for that industry a higher figure than 44 as the maximum number of working hours in a week for young persons under 16. A considerable number of applications for more hours than 44 has been received. Many have been refused or withdrawn; in the case of some industries inquiries have been or are to be held; and in the case of some others the question of directing an inquiry is now under consideration. Under Section 73 there is power to extend within certain limits the overtime permissible. Regulations for that purpose have been made for various classes of factory, and applications from some other industries for such regulations are still under consideration.