§ 1. Mr. MORLEYasked the Minister of Labour if he will take the necessary steps, through the League of Nations, to secure the drafting of an international convention against reductions in wages?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Henry Betterton)It has been the policy of successive Governments to urge at Geneva the necessity for dealing with the question of wages from an international standpoint, and in 1928 the International Labour Conference adopted a draft convention concerning Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery, which has been ratified by this country, and by France, Germany, Italy and certain other countries. I am not aware of any further practical steps that can be taken at the moment.
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe countries that have ratified are Australia, China, France, Germany, the Irish Free State, Italy, Spain, and ourselves.
Viscountess ASTORWould it not have helped if the late Government had kept their promise to ratify the Washington Hours Convention?