§ Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the implementation of article 32 of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child.
§ Mr. ForthI refer the hon. Lady to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and 283W Lunesdale (Mr. Lennox-Boyd) on 21 March at columns 192–93. Article 32 of the convention seeks to regulate hours and conditions of employment and, under the convention's definition of a child, would apply to young people aged 16 to 18. We believe that terms and conditions of employment of young people, as of other employees, are matters for negotiation between employers and employees or their representatives. We have therefore made it clear that when we ratify the convention we will enter a reservation on this article.