HC Deb 30 September 1942 vol 383 cc790-1W
Mr. David Adams

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the wide extent and urgency of many problems affecting Colonial labour, it is intended to set up a separate labour department at the Colonial Office?

Mr. Harold Macmillan

Extensive machinery already exists in the Colonial Office for dealing with labour questions. In April, 1938, a Social Services Department was established to deal with social questions affecting the Colonies generally. Labour questions of this nature, including the work of Colonial Labour Departments, trade union and trade disputes legislation, workmen's compensation legislation, minimum wage legislation, factory legislation, and the application of International Labour Conventions affecting conditions of employment which have been ratified by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, are dealt with in that Department in consultation with the Labour Adviser and the other Departments in the Colonial Office. The recently created Colonial Labour Advisory Committee is also in a position to give valuable advice on such questions.

Forward to