asked the Minister of Labour what were the average hours worked per week in the metal-working industries in April, 1945, and at the latest available date.

The average number of hours worked in the metal, vehicles, engineering and shipbuilding industries by manual wage-earners covered by returns received by the Ministry of Labour and National Service was 47.2 in the last pay-week of January, 1945, 47.5 in the last pay-week of July, 1945, and 45.8 in the last pay-week of April, 1950. Information is not yet available for any later date.