27. Mr. MALONEasked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that the conditions in which the Washington Eight Hour Day Convention may be revised have not yet been settled, and that under Article 21 of the Convention the application of the Convention will only be discussed and an opportunity for revising it only arise once in 10 years, he will say which is the tenth year when the question of revision may be discussed, and 372 from which date the 10 years are reckoned at the end of which revision may be discussed?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDAccording to what I am advised is the better opinion, the period of 10 years specified in Article 21 runs from the "coming into force" of the Convention under Article 18, i.e., from June, 1921. I would remind the hon. Member that what Article 21 does is to require the Governing Body to consider, at least once in 10 years, the desirability of placing this question on the agenda of the Conference. There is nothing to say that the full 10 years or any other period must first elapse.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs it not a fact that the only people who are standing in the way of the ratification are the Federation of British Industries; and why cannot the right hon. Gentleman try to persuade them?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not arise now.