§ 52. Mr. HANNONasked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the proposals at the International Labour Conference at Geneva to establish a maximum 40-hour week; and if any representations will be made against this proposal by His Majesty's Government?
Mr. HUDSONI presume the reference is to a Draft Resolution submitted by M. Jouhaux, the French Workers' Delegate, which contains the following paragraph:
The conference accordingly invites the governing body of the International Labour Office to investigate the question of the legal institution of the forty-hour week in all industrial countries, with a view to the early adoption of international regulations on the subject.The attitude of the British Government has already been made plain at the 56th and 57th Sessions of the governing body of the International Labour Organisation, when the British Government representative opposed similar proposals.
§ Mr. HANNONIs my hon. Friend aware that the British Labour delegate has represented that there is a general desire in this country for a 40-hour week?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDoes the hon. Gentleman, or the Minister think it possible to solve the unemployment problem without a general all-round reduction of hours?
§ Mr. HANNONThis is a very important matter. Is it or is it not a fact that it has been represented to the Conference that there is a. general demand in this country for a 40-hour week?
Mr. HUDSONMy right hon. Friend is not responsible for opinions expressed by representatives of British labour at Geneva. He is only responsible for representing the view of the Government.
§ Mr. LANSBURYHave the Government come to a decision to oppose a reduction in the hours of labour in order to deal with unemployment?
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs it opposed to reducing hours of labour?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not appear to arise directly out of this question.