§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the policy of the Government to ensure that International Labour Organisation conventions which are ratified and operative within the United Kingdom are applied with equal force to Crown Colonies.
§ Mr. KershawYes.
As a full member of the International Labour Organisation the British Government observes the requirements of the constitution.
Article 35, paragraph 1, of the constitution of the International Labour Organisation requires members to undertake that conventions, which they have ratified in accordance with the provisions of the constitution, shall be applied to the non-metropolitan territories for whose international relations they are respon- 384W sible except where the subject matter of the convention is inapplicable owing to the local conditions or subject to such modifications as may be necessary to adapt the convention to local conditions.
British Dependent Territories are regarded as being non-metropolitan territories within the meaning of the International Labour Organisation constitution.