§ 35. Viscount SANDONasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the German Government's pronouncement as to the 8-hour day; and whether, if the other countries concerned are now in line on this matter, legislation can now be introduced?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI have seen reports in the Press of the declaration to which the Noble Lord refers. I am not yet in a position to announce the intentions of the Government in this matter.
§ Viscount SANDONCan the hon. Gentleman say what are the other countries primarily concerned in this matter, and whether any of them have made any decisive declaration, such as have been made by France and Germany?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI think there is a later question on this very point.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSAre we to understand from the hon. Member's reply that the Government have not yet made up their minds whether they will ratify the Eight-Hour Convention?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo. What the hon. Member is to gather from my reply is that the matter is now under the close consideration of the Government.
§ Mr. TAYLORMay I ask if shop assistants will be included?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member's next question raises that point.
§ 39 and 38. Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether it is the intention of the Government to include shop assistants and commercial employés in any forthcoming legislation for the ratification of a 48-hour working week, in accordance with the agreement reached between the Labour Ministers of Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium at the Conference held in London last year to consider the interpretation of the Washington Convention;
(2) what steps, if any, have been taken, since the Conference held in London last year, in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium to ratify the 48-hour week, in accordance with the terms of the Washington Convention and the agreement as to the interpretation arrived at last year between the Labour Ministers of the countries above named?
§ Mr. BETTERTONSince the London Conference Belgium has ratified the Washington Hours Convention. In France a Bill enabling the Government to ratify conditionally on ratification by Germany and Great Britain has been passed by the Senate. In Germany the Government has issued a Workers' Protection Bill, certain clauses of which are designed to give effect to the provisions of the Convention. Italy had already ratified the Convention subject to its being ratified by Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland. I am not yet in a position to state the intentions of His Majesty's Government in this matter. As regards shop assistants and commercial employés, I would remind the hon. Member that the Washington Hours Convention applies only to industrial undertakings.
§ Mr. TAYLORCan the hon. Gentleman tell us whether it will be possible for the Government to include shop assistants in any general legislation, apart altogether from the actual terms of the Convention?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI take it that any Government can include any class of persons in any legislation, but what I tried to make clear in my answer was that the Washington Hours Convention does not include the class of person to whom the hon. Member refers.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEAre the. Government prepared to consider similar provi- 926 sional ratification on the lines of France and Germany?
§ Mr. BETTERTONObviously, I cannot deal with that point in reply to a question. I understand that the whole of this matter is being discussed at a very early date, when, no doubt, the hon. Member will raise that and other matters.
Viscountess ASTORWill the hon. Member bear in mind that the other countries are waiting on England, and that it is far more important from the point of view of England than of the others that this should be ratified?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is taking the form of a debate.