§ 56. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Minister of Labour whether it is the practice for officials of the International Labour Office to attend and take part in meetings of the Trades Union Congress in this country; and whether the expenditure thereby incurred is included in the accounts of the expenditure of the International Labour Office to which this country contributes?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR(Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland): Officials of the International Labour Office have from time to time attended meetings of the Trades Union Congress as observers. Their expenses for such attendance fall on the ordinary budget of the Office.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he agrees that it is a correct proceeding that these non-party officials should take part in a political organisation representing a particular body of opinion while they are employed by a body to which the Government subscribe?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI think generally the more knowledge the officials have the better it is, subject to the ordinary rules of economy.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKI was not referring to economy, but to the political aspect.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESDoes not the effectiveness of this organisation depend almost entirely on the officers of the 1386 organisation keeping in touch with Governments, employers and workpeople's associations?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThat is the effect of the supplementary answer which I have already given.
§ 57. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Minister of Labour the total expenses incurred by the following groups of British delegates and advisers attending at the Seventh Session of the International Labour Conference, May-June, 1925, giving figures for Government delegates and advisers, employers' delegates and advisers, and workpeople's delegates and advisers, separately?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe total expenses paid out of public funds in connection with the Seventh Session of the International Labour Conference, May-June, 1925, amounted to £1,435 7s. 6d. Details of this expenditure are as follow:
£. s. d. Government Delegates and Advisers 637 2 1 Employers' Delegates and Advisers 295 5 5 Workpeople's Delegates and Advisers 358 1 3 Other expenses including hire of office and Conference Rooms, sundry expenses and entertainment expenses 144 18 9
§ Colonel WOODCOCKCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether that is an economy over last year?
Viscountess ASTORDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that, from an international point of view, this is money well spent?
§ 58. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Minister of Labour the amount of remuneration of the Director of the International Labour Office, Geneva; whether any further sum is paid to him by way of allowance for travelling or entertainment expenses; if so, what is the amount, and whether any account is rendered by them of such expenses; and whether he will state what is the period of the appointment of the director and, when the period terminates, who appoints the director for the next period?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe remuneration of the Director of the International Labour Office is 90,000 Swiss francs a year. He receives, in addition, an entertainment allowance of 30,000 Swiss francs a year, of which an account is not rendered, and payment of travelling expenses (including an allowance for subsistence) on the authorised scale. He was appointed by the Governing Body on the 1st January, 1920, and the appointment will, according to my information, come up for reconsideration on the 1st January, 1927.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to support the re-election of a director who has shown himself so partial to all Socialist propensities?
§ Mr. HARRISIs it not right to say that in every way this official is proving a satisfactory and loyal officer?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the Prime Minister taking note of the continued attacks made on this body by his own supporters?