§ 5. Mr. MANDERasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the position with regard to the ratification by this country of the following Conventions: Hours of Work in Coal Mines, the Age of Entry of Children into Non-industrial Occupations, Hours of Work of Employés in Industry, the Abolition of Fee-charging Agencies, and the Minimum Age of Entry into Agriculture?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have prepared a detailed reply to this question which, if I may, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ With regard to the Coal Mines Draft Convention, the International Labour Office is awaiting information from certain of the chief coal-producing countries on the subject of difficulties explained to a meeting of governments last February by my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines. The subject was discussed at the last meeting of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation, and will be further discussed at the next meeting in January. The Draft Conventions on the Age of Entry of Children into Non-industrial Occupations and on Fee-charging Agencies are still under consideration. With regard to the Washington Hours Convention, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on the 27th October, 1932. I would remind him, however, that the question of a new Convention on the reduction of hours of work is now under consideration by the International Labour Organtion. The decision not to ratify the Draft Convention on the Minimum Age of Entry into Agriculture was reached in 1925 and successive Governments have seen no reason to revise this decision.