§ Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, of the 46 States represented at the recent International Labour Conference, the delegations of 17 were not representative of Governments, employers and workers, in accordance with the provisions of Part XIII of the Versailles Treaty of Peace; and whether the representative of His Majesty's Government on the governing body of the International 2820W Labour Office is instructed to urge that steps be taken to secure complete delegations from all the countries which are members of the organisation?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIt is the fact that 17 States sent to the recent International Labour Conference delegations which did not fulfil the requirements of Article 389 of the Treaty of Versailles. My hon. and gallant Friend may be assured that His Majesty's Government will lose no opportunity of doing anything which may promote the fulfilment in this matter of the Treaty obligations.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Minister of Labour whether he can furnish the House with a statement as to the member States of the International Labour Organisation which have ratified the draft conventions put forward by the International Labour Conferences of 1919, 1920 and 1921, showing in such statement the approximate industrial populations of the States and what steps have been taken by them to give effect to such ratification, indicating any legislative measures and any administrative steps taken to give such effect?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the Report made by the Director of the International Labour Office to the recent Conference, which gives the latest information with regard to the ratification and application of conventions, and I will send, as soon as possible, any available information with regard to the industrial population of the States concerned.
§ Miss WILKINSONasked the Minister of Labour for how long any Ministerial representative of the British Government was present at the recent meeting of the International Labour Conference at Geneva; and who represented the British Government at different periods of the Conference?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI was myself one of the representatives of His Majesty's Government at the recent International Labour Conference from the opening of the session on the 19th May until the 26th May, when it was necessary for me to return home owing to the pressure of my duties in London. After that date my place as British Government delegate was taken by Mr. Humbert Wolfe, a Principal 2821W Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Labour. The other British Government delegate throughout the Conference was Mr. R. R. Bannatyne, an Assistant Secretary in the Home Office.