HC Deb 19 June 1935 vol 303 cc366-7
67. Mr. THORNE

asked the Minister of Labour whether the votes of the Government's delegate to the International Labour Office Conference at Geneva against the introduction of a 40-hours working week without reduction in pay and against the appointment of a committee to investigate the proposal, were given on the instruction of the Government?

Mr. E. BROWN

I cannot identify any votes cast at the conference by the British Government delegates which correspond with the description given by the hon. Member. I would point out, however, that as is stated in the published record of the proceedings of 5th June the conference, without taking a vote, decided to set up a committee to consider the question of hours of work. One of the delegates representing His Majesty's Government has been serving on this committee which sat as recently as yesterday preparatory to making a report to the conference. When this report is available and has been dealt with by the conference, I shall be pleased to explain to the hon. Member any point which he wishes to raise regarding the policy of His Majesty's Government as carried out by its representatives at Geneva throughout the complicated series of discussions which have been proceeding there.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Is it not the case that the Government's representatives throughout the whole of the debates have opposed any 40-hour Convention or any progress in that direction?

Mr. BROWN

The hon. Member had better put that question on the Order Paper in that form, and I will give him an answer.

Sir PERCY HARRIS

Has the Government's representative any discretion as to the way he votes according to the discussion that takes place?

Mr. BROWN

I cannot answer a general question of that kind.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Is it or is it not the policy of the Government to support a 40-hour week?

Mr. SPEAKER

We are getting beyond the question on the Order Paper.