§ MR. H. GARDNER (Essex, Saffron Walden)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is a fact that the mat-weaving trade suffers severely from the competition of prison labour; and, if so, whether, in view of the scarcity of employment resulting from the general industrial depression, he will take steps to preserve the existence of a useful and extensive industry by directing that prison-made 38 mats shall not be offered for sale at less than the market price?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. STUART-WORTLEY)(who replied) said (Sheffield, Hallam)Since the Commissioners took over the local prisons every effort has been made to gradually reduce the number of prisoners employed on this industry, with the result that, whereas the daily average number of prison mat-makers in 1878 was 2,959, it was only 1,681 in the year ending the 31st of March last. It may be added that, within the same period, the mat-making trade has been entirely abolished in all convict prisons, the number of convict mat-makers employed having at one time been as high as 266. With regard to the question of price, all mats made for sale at prisons are disposed of at a uniform rate, fixed with due regard to that which prevails in the mat-making trade, which is not undersold. The policy of the Department was stated in a letter directed by the late Secretary of State to be written to the hon. Member for the Sudbury Division of Suffolk (Mr. Quilter) on Juno 11, 1886, to be that prison industries should be as varied as possible; that steps should on all occasions be taken to ensure their obtaining the highest price that any dealer can afford to give; and that prison labour should, as far as possible, be employed in work of all kinds for other Government Departments.