§ 38. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now able to make a statement about the intentions of the Government respecting the implementation of Convention No. 84 adopted by the 30th Session of the International Labour Conference in 1947; and whether the provisions of the conventions referred, to can now be applied to the non-metropolitan territories reserved by Command Paper No. 7865 of January, 1950.
§ Mr. ProfumoAs stated in Cmd. 7865, Convention No. 84 was applied in 1950 to all but three of the non-metropolitan territories for which the United Kingdom is responsible. The Convention is now fully complied with in two of these, and the necessary legislation is under consideration in the third. The further application of the other conventions referred to in the same White Paper will be kept under review.
§ Mr. JonesSurely the Minister recognises that, after a lapse of nearly eight years—it is more than ten years since the Convention was passed by the I.L.O.—it ought now to be possible to apply 1240 this quite modest Convention to the territories which are still reserved.
§ Mr. Profumoif the hon. Member is referring to the Convention he mentions in his Question, as I have already told him, there is only one which is now still under consideration.
§ Mr. CallaghanHow would the ratification of this Convention affect the situation in the Bahamas, from where information is coming in that the situation is worsening because of the strike there? Will the hon. Gentleman or the Colonial Secretary consider making a statement next week on the situation in the Bahamas?
§ Mr. ProfumoWith regard to the first part of that question, Convention No. 84 does apply to the Bahamas.