§ 5. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to obtain through the International Labour Office an international agreement respecting the interpretation of terms used in the Washington Hours Convention?
§ Miss BONDFIELDHis Majesty's Government consider that the interpretation of terms used in the Washington Hours Convention can best be dealt with under Part XIII of the Treaty of Versailles. Article 408 requires each State Member of the International Labour Organisation to make an annual report to the International Labour Office on the measures which it has taken to give effect to the provisions of Conventions to which it is a party. Articles 409–420 provide machinery for enabling complaints to be made to the International Labour Office of the failure of States Members to secure effective observance of ratified conventions, for investigating such complaints, and for obtaining a decision with regard to them, including, where necessary, a reference to the Permanent Court of International Justice.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEWill the Minister of Labour state why there is so much confusion in the interpretation of these various articles by various countries?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI venture to give my own opinion that it is because there have been so few definite ratifications. The interpretation of terms cannot begin until after ratification.
§ Sir K. WOODWould it not be better to have a definite understanding about 581 these matters beforehand, and not wait until after the Treaty is signed?
§ 6. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Labour what definitions are given to the term continuous processes in relation to its use in the Washington Hours Convention by those countries which have ratified that Convention?
§ Miss BONDFIELDA report on this subject is made each year by the Director of the International Labour Office to the International Labour Conference. The latest available information is contained in Part II of the Report made in 1929, of which there is a copy in the Library.
§ 7. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Labour in what particulars the Hours of Industrial Employment Bill departs from the terms of the Washington Hours Convention?
§ Miss BONDFIELDAs I stated in reply to the hon. Member for the Sowerby Division of Yorkshire on 17th April last, I am advised that the Hours of Industrial Employment Bill fulfils the requirements of the Washington Convention except in so far as the hours of persons employed underground in coal mines are concerned. The hours of such workers are the subject of other legislation.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEMay I ask whether all the representatives of the British Trade Union accept those conditions?
§ Sir A. LAMBERT WARDWill the Bill bring the Washington Convention into line with existing customs with regard to work in the retail trade?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIt does not apply to the retail trade.