§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the interests of British industry in, and exports of gold and silver plate, Her Majesty's Government will, prior to the Session of 1890, obtain full information relating to the practice of assaying and hall-marking of gold and silver wares in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Russia, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal, including the laws and regulations relating to the exposure for sale of Foreign manufactured plate in those countries respectively, and the Customs duty pay- 707 able upon imported plate; and, if such information is already in possession of any Department of the Government, whether he will be good enough to lay the same upon the Table of the House?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHIf the hon. Member will specify more particularly the exact information he desires. I will communicate with the Foreign Office with a view of endeavouring to obtain it.