§ 17. Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of Overseas Development what formal relationship exists between her Department and the International Labour Organisation; and what is the extent of this relationship.
§ Mrs. CastleFormal relations between Her Majesty's Government and the International Labour Organisation are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister of Labour with whose officers my Ministry works closely on I.L.O. matters relating to aid and development as part of my responsibility for co-ordinating British policy in this field.
§ Mr. MillsDoes the Minister recall that in her statement on 10th November, referring to the Specialised Agencies, she did not refer to the work in co-ordination with this United Nations specialised department? Will she give an assurance that she will pay particular regard to its valuable management training courses?
§ Mrs. CastleIn my statement of 10th November, I pointed out that I had general responsibility for coordinating British policy in respect of the aid and development work of the United Nations and its Specialised Agencies. I also pointed out that I would be taking over the executive responsibility for our relations with F.A.O. and U.N.E.S.C.O. These are Specialised Agencies which have a particular activity in this field. That is why I have taken over executive responsibility for them, but not for the I.L.O., which is concerned with many industrial matters which are more the interest of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.