HC Deb 13 April 1960 vol 621 cc1241-2
7. Mr. C. Pannell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will instruct the British delegate to the United Nations to table a resolution to ensure that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, passed by the Assembly on 10th December, 1948, is observed, that everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work, and to protection against unemployment.

Mr. Profumo

I do not think that a resolution on the lines proposed by the hon. Gentleman could have any greater effect than has the Universal Declaration itself. As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, the Declaration was proclaimed by the General Assembly as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.

Mr. Pannell

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the things that have happened since then in South Africa? Does he appreciate that the Declaration refers to the right to work, that the right to work also involves the right to refuse to work, and that not since the late eighteenth century has it been legal in this country to force a man to work? But in South Africa last week, in certain towns, after the time of 8 o'clock in the morning, men were driven to work either with clubs or whips. It is for this reason that I think that the Government, as head of the Commonwealth, should lay down a standard of civilised conduct with which the rest of the Commonwealth should agree. Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that when this sort of thing happened in Hungary we were very anxious to rush in. Will he agree that evil is indivisible?

Mr. Profumo

That is a very ramified supplementary question and rather far from the original one, which is directed towards the United Nations, and which I have tried to answer.

Mr. Pannell

On a point of order Mr. Speaker. The right hon. Gentleman is questioning my bona fides in asking this supplementary question. I sent him a letter of explanation why I was asking the Question before I asked it.

Mr. Profumo

I am not criticising the hon. Member's bona fides. I am saying that his supplementary question is rather far from his original Question. I am sure that the hon. Member realises that the whole problem of Hungary was entirely different, as there was invasion by foreign forces. This Question deals with the United Nations, and my answer is that no resolution of the Assembly can "ensure" anything, because all such resolutions are merely recommendations.