1093
15 DECEMBER 1969
Factory Night Work
[MR. EDELMAN.] the matter and I can only assume he must be talking about the criteria for exemptions. The dramatic rise in the number of exemptions since 1967 shows that the criteria have been diminished or diluted, their quality lowered, or that they are being given more freely, or in- deed recklessly, on the assumption that the D.E.P. is interested in introducing a new principle on the lines advocated by the C.B.I. and so strongly opposed by the T.U.C.
In conclusion, I hope nobody will imagine that to protect women from exploitation by limiting their right to work in inferior conditions in any way impinges on the principle of equal pay or equality of opportunity. No civilised person would want women to work under- ground in pits.
Contrary to what the Coventry Tele- graph said in a leading article women are not the same as men, and men are not the same as women. Nor can condi- tions in a factory at night be equated with that under which women work in hospitals, or perhaps even in Parliament.
The economic, social, safety and family objections to the employment of women on night shift are so compelling that I trust that the Minister will make it clear that in the face of trade union objections and I hope that my hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend will not on this occasion collide with the trade unions-local, district and national, the Ministry is opposed to night work for women on the basis of the Factories Act, 1961, and will not continue to grant these exemptions.
11.55 p.m.
Mr. Leslie Huckfield (Nuneaton): I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Mem- ber for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman) for giving me the opportunity to share with him my concern about the employ- ment of women on night shift in a fac- tory which, after all, is in my constituency. Like him, I am particu- larly concerned about the method by which the exemption order under Section 117 of the 1961 Factories Act was granted. Permission for exemption finally came over the telephone. If this is the kind of severity, sincerity and seriousness which is attached to these procedures, I venture to suggest that this
8 H 18
(Women)
1094
merits something more than a telephone call to go ahead. I hope that my hon. Friend the Minister will be able to tell my hon. Friend and myself something about the re-examination of these pro- cedures to which he has referred in correspondence with me.
Further to that point, I ask the Minister how crucial was this exemption order for women to work on night shift? We are told that the actual night shift was necessary so that nine women from the twilight shift could be transferred to night shift because an export contract deadline had to be met. It was in these circumstances that permission to go ahead with the night shift was given, over the telephone, on Friday, 21st November to 24th December. Despite the fact that this deadline was so urgent, I am told by the firm that this night shift will come to an end by the end of this week. The exemption order will not be needed for the full time. How serious, then, were the conditions under which it was felt that this order should be granted?
Will my hon. Friend define the terms of Section 117 of the Act under which exemption orders can be granted? The Act provides and I am sure that my hon. Friend has based his case on this- that women on night shift can be per- mitted where it is deemed to be in the public interest and where it is thought to be desirable for maintaining or increas- ing the efficiency of industry. I have been on a few Committees since I came to this House and from the small experi- ence I have gained on some of them I know that phrases like "maintaining or increasing the efficiency of industry can cover a multitude of things.
>>
Since hearing from my hon. Friend, I am glad that he has been able to tell my hon. Friend and myself that he will re-examine these procedures. Can he tell both my hon. Friend and myself tonight two things about which I have expressed particular concern? I would have thought that at least the Secretary of State herself should examine these exemption orders, as they are made in circumstances where at least 15,000 or 16,000 women are working on night shift. I should have thought that this matter was serious enough to warrant my right hon. Friend the Secretary
the Secretary of State examining each application.