HC Deb 01 July 1937 vol 325 cc2126-7
14. Sir Nicholas Grattan-Doyle

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to take any action towards ratifying the convention adopted by the International Labour Office applying the principle of a 40-hour week to the textile industry; and what textile industry there is in the countries whose delegates supported the proposal?

Mr. E. Brown

In accordance with the obligation placed upon members of the International Labour Organisation under Article 405 of the Treaty of Versailles, the Government will consider the question of the action to be taken in respect of the Draft Convention, and the usual procedure will be followed of laying before Parliament a White Paper stating the action which it is proposed to take. With regard to the second part of the question, I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement of the final vote on the Draft Convention in which a list of the countries whose delegates supported the proposal is given. Having regard to the number of industries covered by the Draft Convention, I am afraid that it is difficult within the limits of this answer to include a statement of the extent of textile manufacture in these countries.

Mr. Paling

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the employers' representatives voted against this Convention because they were afraid of competition from low-paid countries?

Mr. Brown

It is not for me to draw any conclusion as to the vote that the representatives gave. They gave their own reasons before the conference, and the hon. Member will be able to read it in the report when it is available.

Mr. Paling

Did not the British Government give it as one of their reasons that they were afraid of competition from the low-paid countries?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Member knows quite well that that is a reflection that no British Government representative has made.

Mr. H. G. Williams

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the fact that the European country which has introduced the 40-hour week is in a mess?

Mr. Mander

Did not three Governments of the Commonwealth nations vote for the Convention?

Mr. Brown

If the hon. Member will read the list he will see.

Mr. Mander

Is not that so?

Following is the list:

FINAL VOTE ON TEXTILE DRAFT CONVENTION.
For.
Albania. Finland.
Argentine Republic. France.
Latvia
Australia. Luxemburg.
Belgium. Mexico.
Bolivia. Norway.
Brazil. New Zealand.
Canada. Panama.
Chile. Peru.
Cuba. Russia.
Czechoslovakia. Spain.
Denmark. Turkey.
Dominican Republic. United States.
Uruguay.
Ecuador. Yugoslavia
Against.
Great Britain. Japan.
Estonia. Holland.
India. Switzerland.
Abstained.
Afghanistan. Irish Free State.
Austria. Lithuania.
Bulgaria. Poland.
China. Portugal.
Colombia. Rumania.
Egypt. Siam.
Greece. Sweden.
Hungary. South Africa.
Iraq. Venezuela.
Iran.

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