§ 10. Mr. HICKSasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Government representative at the recent meeting of the governing body of the International Labour Office opposed the proposal that the question of hours of labour should be placed on the agenda of the 1933 session of the conference; whether he can state the reasons for this opposition; and whether, in view of the support given to the proposal by the French and German Government delegates, he will now reconsider this possible remedy for unemployment?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAt the recent meeting of the Governing Body held at Madrid His Majesty's Government's representative was instructed to oppose any decision to place this subject on the agenda of the 1933 conference on the ground that it was premature to take any such decision before the Preparatory Technical Conference, which is to be held early in January, had taken place. As was stated by him at the meeting, His Majesty's Government will be represented at the Preparatory Conference, at which the question of an international agreement for reducing weekly hours of work is to be examined. I would refer the hon. Member also to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on 10th November.
§ Mr. HICKSAre the Government still considering this matter; and, in view of later developments, would they not like to amend their instructions regarding any opposition to this question being placed on the agenda of the conference and discussed?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo, Sir. The hon. Gentleman, if I may say so, has not completely appreciated the position. The position now is that this matter is being considered by a preparatory technical conference. In that conference we shall take part, but we thought it would be rather foolish to place the matter on the agenda of the main conference before it had been fully examined by the technical conference.
§ Mr. HICKSDo I understand that the Government will be willing to support it at the technical conference?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo, Sir. The hon. Gentleman clearly must expect that I shall wait and see what future developments are and use my own judgment and that of my representative.
§ Mr. THORNEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that one of the best ways to find thousands of men and women employment is to have a universal reduction of hours; and ought not the Government to do something in that direction?
§ 16. Mr. LOGANasked the Minister of Labour what action is being taken by his Department to secure a reduction in the hours of labour in a normal working day?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAs the hon. Member is aware, hours of labour are normally arranged by negotiation and collective agreements between employers and workpeople in the various industries, and I am taking no action to interfere with this arrangement.