HC Deb 20 November 1940 vol 365 cc2023-4W
Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state all the departures since the outbreak of war from the legal and recognised provisions governing the hours of labour of women and young persons in industry in this country?

Mr. E. Bevin

The departures vary greatly in detail from time to time and from factory to factory to meet the circumstances of individual cases, and I could not undertake the task of compiling a list. The general lines, however, on which departures from the provisions in question are authorised are indicated in the report on this subject (Cmd. 6182) presented to Parliament earlier this year, and at the present time the great majority of these departures are covered by a general order for engineering and various other classes of works of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.