§ 7. Mr. James Hallasked the Minister of Labour what countries have ratified the Maritime Conventions adopted by the International Labour Conference at Geneva, in October, 1936?
§ Mr. E. BrownWith the hon. Member's permission I propose to circulate in the Official Report a table showing the countries which have ratified each of the Conventions referred to.
§ Mr. HallIs the right hon. Gentleman prepared to recommend that this country also should ratify the treaty?
§ Mr. BrownThat, of course, is another question, and the answer is in a White Paper laid before the House.
Following is the table:Officers' Competency Certificates Convention, 1936. Ratified by Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Estonia, New Zealand, Norway, United States of America.Holidays with Pay (Sea) Convention, 1936. Ratified by Belgium, United States of America.Shipowners' Liability (Sick and Injured Seamen) Convention, 1936. Ratified by Belgium, United States of America.Sickness Insurance (Sea) Convention, 1936.Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Convention, 1936. Ratified by Australia, Belgium, *Sweden, United States of America.Minimum Age (Sea) Convention (Revised), 1936. Ratified by Belgium, Sweden, Brazil, Norway, United States of America.1446* The ratification by Sweden of this Convention is subject to the reservation that it will only enter into force as regards Sweden when the Convention has already entered into force as regards Denmark, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
§ 8. Mr. J. Hallasked the Minister of Labour whether he has completed his inquiries regarding seamen's welfare in ports; and what steps have been taken to give effect to the seamen's welfare in ports recommendation adopted by the International Labour Conference in 1936?
§ Mr. BrownNo, Sir. The inquiries which I have initiated in conjunction with the President of the Board of Trade will necessarily take some little time, owing to the number of ports which it is desirable to visit in order that a really comprehensive picture of the situation may be available. As regards the second part of the question, the purpose of the inquiry is to assist in showing what steps may be necessary.
§ Mr. HallDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that this inaction on the part of the Government is unfair to seamen, and that a Convention of this sort is long overdue?
§ Mr. BrownI do not agree. The ports covered by the inquiry are Southampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Newcastle, South Shields, Hull, Liverpool, Belfast, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Leith and London, and the House will realise that that will take some little time.
§ Mr. R. GibsonWill the Minister see that Greenock is added to that list?
§ 26. Mr. J. Hallasked the Minister of Labour whether he proposes to ascertain the views of the Governments of Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics regarding the ratification of the Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Convention, which will become effective in Sweden at such time as it also becomes effective in Great Britain and the five other countries already mentioned?
§ Mr. BrownNo, Sir. The reasons why His Majesty's Government do not propose to ratify this Convention were set out in a White Paper (Cmd. 5745), presented to the House in May of last year, and remain unaltered.
§ Mr. HallHas there not been unwillingness on the part of the Government to make very necessary improvements in the scheme?
§ Mr. BrownNo, Sir, I do not think so. I agree with the White Paper, which says:
His Majesty's Government do not propose to ratify this Convention as it would entail a variation of voluntary agreements recently made by the industry itself and also entail the laying down of maximum working hours for ships' officers, who occupy highly responsible positions.
§ Mr. ShinwellIn spite of the voluntary agreements to which the right hon. Gentleman referred, is it not the case that seamen are not yet satisfied with the manning provisions?