HC Deb 05 July 1951 vol 489 cc2467-9
4. Miss Ward

asked the Minister of Labour which way the United Kingdom Government delegates, the employers' representative and the workers' representative voted at the International Labour Organisation Conference at Geneva on the proposal that a convention with a recommendation in favour of equal pay for men and women should be proceeded with.

Mr. Robens

In accordance with the usual practice, separate final votes were taken at the 34th Session of the International Labour Conference on the proposed convention and recommendation concerning equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value. The Government delegates abstained on the proposed convention and voted in favour of the proposed recommendation. The employers' delegate voted against the draft convention and the draft recommendation, and the workers' delegate voted in favour of both.

Miss Ward

Why did the Government, on this occasion, join with the employers in voting against the wishes of the workers? Is this a new policy on the part of His Majesty's Government?

Mr. Robens

If the hon. Lady will look at my reply, she will see that the Government delegates and the employers' delegate voted differently on these matters.

Miss Ward

Not on the committee stage.

Mr. Robens

There is no reference to the committee stage in the Question on the Order Paper.

5. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Labour why the British Government delegates to the International Labour Organisation Conference at Geneva this year failed to vote in favour of a convention on equal pay.

8. Brigadier Medlicott

asked the Minister of Labour why, in view of the adherence of His Majesty's Government to the principle of equal pay for women, the delegates of the British Government at the International Labour Office conference at Geneva did not vote in favour of the convention intended to embody this principle.

Mr. Robens

The Government considered that the international regulations as a whole should most appropriately be cast in the form of a recommendation. The Government delegates accordingly endeavoured to secure that the regulations should take this form. The conference nevertheless adopted regulations in the form of a convention supplemented by a recommendation. Having been defeated on an amendment designed to render the text of the convention more acceptable. the Government delegates abstained on the final vote. They voted in favour of the supplementary recommendation.

Mrs. Castle

Is it not a fact that if the Government sign a recommendation they are under less of an obligation to do something about it than if they sign a convention; and is this the reason why His Majesty's Government failed to vote?

Mr. Robens

If the convention had been a recommendation we should have voted for it and accepted it, because then it would have left the Government free to introduce this principle when the economic condition of the country allowed.