§ 39. Mr. ROBERT YOUNGasked the Minister of Labour whether, now that the Government of the German Reich has ratified the International Labour Office Convention on Maternity Protection, he will expedite its ratification by His Majesty's Government?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe general reason which led His Majesty's Government delegates at Washington in 1919 to abstain from voting for the adoption of the Maternity Convention, and which led successive Governments to refuse to ratify, are that, in the British view, the benefits provided under the health insurance scheme and other social services already in operation in this country are in accordance with the policy of the Convention and are, indeed, in some respects in advance of those embodied in the Convention.
§ Mr. YOUNGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that maternity mortality has not decreased in this country during the past 15 years, and is not that a reason for ratification of the Convention?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI will communicate the first part of the question to the Ministry of Health. As regards ratification of the Convention, this country has already in force a policy aiming at the same results, and it was considered that the adoption of the specific proposals 1377 made in the Convention would lead to serious administrative difficulties and that the benefits which might be so conferred additionally would be restricted to a more limited class.