§ 26. Mr. WATERSONasked the Prime Minister whether any instructions were given to the British delegation attending 1953 the International Conference of Seamen as to whether the policy of His Majesty's Government was for the granting of a 48-hour week for seamen; and, if no instructions were given on this, can he state what is the Government's policy on the matter?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe British delegates were instructed that His Majesty's Government deemed it desirable that an international agreement on the subject of the hours of labour on board ship should be arrived at. They were further told to do all in their power to promote an international settlement that would be fair to the officers and men of the Mercantile Marine, and at the same time keep fully in view the special conditions and difficulties of that service.