§ Mr. Simmondsasked the Minister of Labour, whether he is aware that, arising from the earlier hour of darkness, workers in war industries are increasingly unwilling to work overtime on the day-shift; and how it is intended that this problem should be solved in the national interests?
§ Mr. BevinI am not prepared to accept the view that workers in war industries are increasingly unwilling to work overtime on the day shifts. There have been difficulties, not attributable to the work-people, in connection with transport and other matters and the nature of the problem varies from area to area and from factory to factory. The Government must rely in the main on the ingenuity and practical knowledge of trade unions, employers' associations, the workpeople and the management for devising arrangements in each case which will secure the object of maintaining maximum production. I am constantly stimulating consideration of these problems by all concerned.