HC Deb 09 July 1958 vol 591 cc372-3
7 and 8. Mr. Brockway

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what decisions were reached at the 42nd Conference of the International Labour Office regarding a convention to prevent discrimination on grounds of race, creed and sex;

(2) what decision was reached at the 42nd Conference of the International Labour Office on a convention on safeguarding the conditions of plantation workers.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The Conference adopted a Convention and Recommendation on discrimination in respect of employment and occupation and on the conditions of employment of plantation workers.

The text of these instruments will be included in a report by the Government delegates to the Conference, which will be laid before the House in due course.

Mr. Brockway

While welcoming that news, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to give the House an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will ratify these instruments for the abolition of discrimination and for minimum conditions for the plantation workers?

Mr. Macleod

I think the hon. Gentleman must wait until this is done in proper form and the announcements are made to the House. Of course the Government delegates voted for all four of these instruments and we have no objection in principle, though in detail some of them may cause a little difficulty.