HC Deb 17 March 1947 vol 435 cc14-5
20. Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who was the British representative on the Human Rights Commission; and what were the names of the advisers who travelled to New York for the occasion.

Mr. McNeil

The United Kingdom representative was Mr. Charles Dukes. He was assisted as adviser by Mr. Geoffrey Wilson, and by an official from the Foreign Office.

Mr. W. J. Brown

As Mr. Charles Dukes is a strong protagonist of the closed shop principle, does the right hon. Gentleman regard him as a suitable member to serve upon the Human Rights Commission?

Mr. McNeil

As the hon. Gentleman, at least, used to know, there is probably no institution in the world other than the British trade union which has taken such an interest in the matter.

Mr. Lindsay

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why no woman sits on this Commission?

Mr. McNeil

As the hon. Gentleman knows, we were entitled to have only one representative on the Commission, and naturally we have placed a woman on the Commission dealing with women's rights.