HC Deb 23 February 1995 vol 255 cc317-8W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals to exclude the use of child labour he plans to make to the World Trade Organisation.

Mr. Ian Taylor

The Government are fully committed to international action, for example through the UN and the International Labour Organisation, to stop exploitation of children, but do not consider that action through the WTO would be an appropriate means to achieve this.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations were made during the general agreement on tariffs and trade discussions on the use of child labour world wide; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ian Taylor

The issue was not on the agenda for the Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations. At the conclusion of the round, certain delegations asked for the issue of the relationship between the trading system and internationally recognised labour standards to be added, among a number of others, to the agenda of the World Trade Organisation. No decision has been made on this suggestion.