HC Deb 15 July 1937 vol 326 cc1454-5
14. Mr. James Hall

asked the Minister of Labour when the last statement as to the proposed action by His Majesty's Government regarding the draft conventions and recommendations adopted by the International Labour Conference was published; what draft conventions and recommendations have been adopted since; whether there are any other draft conventions and recommendations in respect to which no statement on the proposed action has yet been published; and whether he intends to arrange for the publication of a White Paper outlining the action proposed in relation to these draft conventions and recommendations at an early date?

Mr. E. Brown

The last statement in the form of a White Paper setting out the proposed action by His Majesty's Government regarding the draft conventions and recommendations adopted by the International Labour Conference was published in April, 1936 (Cmd. 5141). I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the conventions and recommendations adopted since that date, and I will consider whether the issue of a White Paper is desirable.

Mr. Hall

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there have been six circulars issued since the issue of the last White Paper and 20 conventions and recommendations have been adopted? Is not a report overdue?

Mr. Brown

All these reports are available in the Library. What is necessary is to bring them up to date. I am considering whether the whole information would be advantageous to the House in the form of a White Paper.

Following is the list:— Draft Conventions and Recommendations of the International Labour Conference adopted since April, 1936. Draft Convention (No. 50) concerning the regulation of certain special systems of recruiting workers; Recommendation (No. 46) concerning the progressive elimination of recruiting; Draft Convention (No. 51) concerning the reduction of hours of work on public works; Draft Convention (No. 52) concerning annual holidays with pay; Recommendation (No. 47) concerning annual holidays with pay; Recommendation (No. 48) concerning the promotion of seamen's welfare in ports; Draft Convention (No. 53) concerning the minimum requirements of professional capacity for masters and officers on board merchant ships; Draft Convention (No. 54) concerning annual holidays with pay for seamen; Draft Convention (No. 55) concerning the liability of the shipowner in case of sickness, injury or death of seamen; Draft Convention (No. 56) concerning sickness insurance for seamen; Draft Convention (No. 57) concerning hours of work on board ship and manning; Draft Convention (No. 49) concerning hours of work on board ship and manning; Draft Convention (No. 58) fixing the minimum age for the admission of children to employment at sea (revised 1935). In addition, the following draft conventions and recommendations were adopted by the Conference last month, but the authentic texts have not yet been circulated to Governments by the International Labour Office:— Recommendation on International Co-operation in respect of public works; Recommendation on the national planning of public works; Draft Convention fixing the minimum age for admission of children to industrial employment (revised 1937); Draft Convention concerning the age for admission of children to non-industrial employment (revised 1937); Recommendation concerning the minimum age for admission of children to industrial employment in family undertakings; Draft Convention concerning the reduction of hours of work in the textile industry; Draft Convention concerning safety provisions in the building industry; Recommendation concerning safety provisions in the building industry; Recommendation concerning co-operation in accident prevention in the building industry; Recommendation concerning vocational education in the building industry.