asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the cases of excessive hours worked by women and young persons quoted in the Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories; and whether it is his intention to prevent the continuance of such practices by introducing a statutory 48-hour week for women and young persons?

In the cases referred to by the noble Lord the hours worked by the women and young persons were in flagrant contravention of the maximum limits prescribed by the present Act, and I fail to see how a reduction of those limits could have any effect in stopping such practices. Cases of this kind will, I am afraid, always be liable to occur from time to time, but I am glad to say they are quite exceptional.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Chief Factory Inspector's Report alludes to the fact that a great many complaints of overwork are found on investigation to be well within the legislative limits?

I am afraid my Noble Friend is referring to a particular section. I thought it was a question of the hours being beyond the present maximum. That, I say, is exceptional and would not be met by an alteration of the maximum.

I will put another question later.