§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Home Secretary the numbers and names of those Powers signatory to the International Labour Organisation Convention of the 19th November, 1921, who have either ratified the proposed restrictions on the use of lead paint or have laid legislation to that end before their respective legislatures; and whether he will give the names and numbers of those Powers concerned who have taken no such action?
Mr. HENDERSONI have consulted with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on this matter. Our information is that three Powers, namely, Czechslovakia, Esthonia and Sweden, have formally ratified the Convention, though I understand that in the case of Czechslovakia legislation to give effect to the provisions of the Convention has not yet been passed. Ratification has been authorised, though not formally registered, in the case of four other Powers Austria, Greece, Italy and Poland In the case of seven countries—Bulgaria, Chili, Cuba, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands and Spain—legislative proposals to give effect to the draft Convention have been laid before the respective legislatures. Draft Conventions adopted by the International Labour Conference are not signed. Of the 54 members of the242W International Labour Organisation at the time of the third session of the Conference in 1921, 39 were represented at the Conference; in the case of Albania, Bolivia, Canada, China, Finland, Guatemala, India, Japan, Rumania, Siam and Venezuela, the government representatives did not vote for the draft Convention. So far as I am aware, the remaining countries represented at the Conference, namely, South Africa, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Denmark, France, Luxemburg, Norway, Portugal, Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Switzerland and Uruguay, have, as yet, not brought before their respective legislatures legislation designed to give effect to the draft Convention. I would add that in France the use of white lead in painting operations carried out by operative painters, whether on the exterior or interior of buildings, is prohibited by a Decree, dated 20th July, 1909.