§ 49. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, since 1969 is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the International Labour Organisation, he will now ratify those International Labour Organisation conventions which relate to hours of work.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. William Whitlock)It has been the policy of successive Governments only to ratify International Labour Conventions when our law and practice are in complete conformity with their provisions.
§ Mr. RankinIs my hon. Friend aware that many people regard that as simply an escape route from facing up to the real problem? Is it not disturbing that in a British colony today people should be working in service industries for 15, 16 or 17 hours a day at a time when we are celebrating this great anniversary? Will he not think about this matter again?
§ Mr. WhitlockAs I informed my hon. Friend on 12th May, the United Kingdom, the Member State concerned, has not ratified the I.L.O. conventions which relate to hours of work; therefore, the question of applying those conventions to the dependent territories does not arise.