(a) declined to sign and (b) not yet signed; and if he will make a statement. [128756]

A total of 65 ILO conventions, including all of the 'core' ILO conventions, which cover freedom of association and the right to organise and collective bargaining;; the elimination of forced and child labour; and the ending of discrimination in employment, are in force in the UK. We also observe in principle many of the requirements of unratified conventions. The ILO has recognised the need to keep its instruments under review and recently withdrew or shelved 27 out of date conventions, while next year's conference will consider the withdrawal of 16 out of date recommendations. The ILO has also recognised the importance of a coherent approach to labour standards including through the proposed new consolidated maritime instrument and the general discussion at this year's International Labour Conference which for the first time was based on an integrated approach, taking account of all existing ILO instruments in the area of occupational safety and health.

The table shows the ILO conventions which the United Kingdom has not ratified or has ratified and subsequently denounced. In recent years a number of conventions have been denounced automatically due to ratification of new, more up-to-date conventions which subsume the requirements of earlier instruments. We will continue to review unratified conventions.

Notes:

1. Conventions 5, 7, 10, and 15 were denounced as a result of ratification of the Minimum Age Convention 138 (1973).

2. Convention 63 was denounced as a result of ratification of the Labour Statistics Convention 160 (1985).

3. Convention 18 was denounced on ratification of the revised Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention 42 (1934).