§ 34. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that the conference of Labour Ministers of Beltun, France, Germany, Italy, and Great. Britain called to discuss the ratification of the Washington Hours Convention reached a unanimous agreement, that Belgium has now ratified the agreement unconditioNaily, that France has ratified it conditioNaily on Germany ratifying, and that Germany is taking steps this month to ratify, he will say how soon the British Government intends to take action in the matter?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDOn this question generally I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Member for Rotherhithe on 11th November, of which I am sending him a copy. I should perhaps add that, according to my information, it is not the case that France has ratified the Convention, and that I am not aware that the German Government have come to any decision in the matter.
§ Mr. TREVELYANWas the reason given in the reply to which the right hon. Gentleman alludes for the Government not taking any steps to ratify that the Government were at that moment preoccupied with the coal situation, and as they are now free from that pre-occupation will they not now ratify?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI cannot imagine anyone this afternoon at this precise moment saying the Government are free from that pre-occupation.
§ Mr. TREVELYANWhen this afternoon is finished and the Government are free, how soon do they intend to consider this important Measure?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDAs soon as we conveniently can.
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNIs it the policy of the Government to endeavour to clear out of the way the difficulties which stand in the way of ratification?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIf we can get the difficulties cleared out of the way of ratification the path will be easy, but the question is how easily can they be cleared away.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs not the Mines Eight Hours Act the biggest difficulty?
§ Mr. SPEAKERFurther questions should be put down.