§ Mr. G. WHITEasked the Minister of Labour if he will give the names of the signatories of the Washington Convention who have ratified or have signified their intention to ratify the Eight-hour-day Draft Convention.
§ Mr. SHAWBulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Greece, India and Rumania have ratified the Convention in question. In the case of Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and Rumania the Convention does not become operative in its entirety until 1st July, 1924, while in the case of India the Convention expressly concedes the principle of a 60-hour week. Of the countries whose representatives at Washington voted for the Convention, so far as I am aware, Argentina, Brazil, France, Italy, Netherlands and Spain have laid before the respective Legislatures proposals to give effect to the Convention. In addition, since the Armistice, more than 20 States have enacted eight-hour-day laws of varying scope.
§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Minister of Labour the countries represented at the Washington Conference which have actually adopted the 48-hours week Convention as well as those which have merely submitted the Convention to their respective Legislatures which have not yet approved it; and whether he will give the names of those countries which have not taken any action at all on these lines?
§ Mr. SHAWAs to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to-day to the hon. Member for East Birkenhead (Mr. G. White). As to the latter part of the question, under the Treaty of Versailles there is no obligation upon members of the international Labour Organisation to notify the Secretary-General of the submission of draft conventions to their respective Legislatures. I have, however, a certain amount of information as to the action taken in various countries, and if the hon. Member will indicate to me the countries 2141W in which he is interested, I will give him such information as is at my disposal.