§ Mr. Bennasked the Minister of Labour which of the non-metropolitan territories for which Her Majesty's Government have direct or indirect responsibility have been approached for their consent to the ratification of the Convention on the abolition of slavery, the slave trade nd institutions and practices similar to slavery signed by Her Majesty's Government on 7th September, 1956, at Geneva; and which have replied, and in what terms.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI have been asked to reply.
I think that the hon. Member may be confusing ratification of the Convention with its application to the non-metropolitan territories for whose international 218W relations Her Majesty's Government are responsible.
As regards the application of the Convention to these territories, all have been, or shortly will be, asked whether they consent to the application of the Convention. No replies have yet been received, but the Convention initially allows twelve months for consultation with non-metropolitan territories. As the Convention requires, Her Majesty's Government will inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the results of those consultations: application of the Convention to those non-metropolitan territories who accept it takes effect from the date of notification of their agreement by Her Majesty's Government to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. This process does not affect ratification of the Convention by the United Kingdom, and we are pressing on with the necessary arrangements.