HC Deb 13 April 1972 vol 834 cc219-20W
Mr. Golding

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will advise the Governmental delegates to the International Labour Organisation to press for the establishment of a committee of experts on conditions of health services, and immediately afterwards of an experts' committee to deal with the social problems of postal, telegraph and telephone workers.

Mr. Dudley Smith

No. In the present circumstances my right hon. Friend is anxious not to press for anything that would add to the financial commitments of the International Labour Organisation.

Mr. Golding

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will advise the Governmental delegates to the International Labour Office to press for an early meeting of the International Labour Organisation joint committee on the public services.

Mr. Dudley Smith

No. This committee met in March-April, 1971, and my right hon. Friend sees no reason for according it priority over industrial and analogous committees which have met less recently and whose next meetings have had to be postponedsine die because of the organisation's financial difficulties.

Mr. Golding

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will advise the Governmental delegates to the International Labour Organisation to press for an international convention on public servants' trade union rights.

Mr. Dudley Smith

No. My right hon. Friend would not favour a convention restricted to the trade union rights of any one class of employed persons. International Convention No. 87 which the United Kingdom has ratified already covers public servants except for the Armed Forces and police, where special considerations apply.

Mr. Golding

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will advise the Governmental delegates to the International Labour Organisation to press for a study of the social repercussions and other effects on workers of automation in the postal services and telecommunications.

Mr. Dudley Smith

The labour and social repercussions of automation are to be discussed at this year's International Labour Conference, which will no doubt pay appropriate attention to any special problems of particular groups of workers.