§ 61. Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention was called to the statement made in the first Report of the Select Committee on Estimates (Ministry of Labour) that Great Britain's share of the cost of the International Labour Organisation at Geneva amounts to 9.41 per cent. of the total and her voting strength to one out of 54, or 1.85 per cent., and that the Committee considered that in this matter taxation should correspond with representation; and whether he will take steps to reduce the share of Great Britain from 9.41 per cent. to 1.85 per cent. of the total expenditure of the Labour Organisation?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe step suggested would involve a similar alteration in the proportion of Great Britain's contribution to the expenses of the League of Nations, or else a radical amendment to Article 399 of the Treaty of Versailles and the corresponding Article of the other peace treaties. It appears to be impracticable, quite apart from the question of its intrinsic merits. That question concerns my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, and I would draw attention to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour to the hon. and gallant Member for Everton on the 1st of April last.
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHIn view of the fact that the Treaty of Versailles has been repeatedly changed from time to time, and that British Governments have disregarded articles of the Treaty more than once, cannot they reconsider the question of contributions to the Labour Bureau in view of the fact that we are paying far too much money for the services we get?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat seems to be an argument on the question just answered.