§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Labour if, in view of automation, 176W improved technique and other forms of greater productivity, he will encourage the introduction of the 40-hour week.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe Government's declared aim is a steady improvement in standards of living based upon increased productivity. What form this improvement should take in each branch of industry and how far it should include a reduction in the hours of work is for the two sides of the industry to discuss and decide.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the average weekly working hours in Great Britain annually since 1934 to the latest available date.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodIn 1934 the normal working week for day workers as laid down in collective agreements or statutory orders was generally 47 or 48 hours whereas at the present time it is 44 or 45 hours in the great majority of industries. The reduction took place mainly in 1946 and 1947.
The average hours actually worked by manual workers in manufacturing industries and some of the principal non-manufacturing industries for one week in each year since 1934 for which information has been collected are given in the following Table:
AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS WORKED BY MANUAI WORKERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM * One week in:— Average number of hours worked October, 1935 47.8 October, 1938 46.5 July, 1943 50.0 July, 1944 48.6 July, 1945 47.4 October, 1946 46.2 October, 1947 45.2 October, 1948 45.3 October, 1949 45.4 October, 1950 46.1 October, 1951 46.1 October, 1952 46.1 October, 1953 46.3 October, 1954 46.7 October, 1955 46.9 October, 1956 46.6 October, 1957 46.4 October, 1958 46.0 April, 1959 46.3 (Provisional) * Separate figures for Great Britain are not available