asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the average overtime per operative worked in all manufacturing industries for the week ended 31st May, 1964, compared with the average for the years 1963, 1962, and 1961.

The average number of hours overtime worked per operative in all manufacturing industries for week ended 16th May, 1964, the only date in May for which information is available, was 2·6 hours, compared with annual averages of 23 hours, 2·2 hours and 2·3 hours for 1963, 1962 and 1961, respectively.

Are those figures not a clear indication of the way in which the basic working hours have gone down continuously in the last few years, during which time we have been in office?

It is perfectly true that the basic working hours have gone down, and I welcome the fact that this has been done through freely negotiated agreements.