HC Deb 11 December 1888 vol 331 c1772
MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attentian has been called to the recommendation contained in Mr. Burnett's Report as to the nail and chain makers of Cradley District, that, "before anything is done, there shouln be an inquiry by Royal Commission; and, whether, with a view to the legislation in their behalf promised by the Government for next Session, it would be possible to appoint a Royal Commission at once, so that its Report should be in the hands of the public at the commencement of next Session?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

The Government have not made an absolute promise of legislation as to the position of the nail and chain makers next Session; but they have undertaken to give early and careful attention to the subject, and to propose legislation if, after such consideration, they find themselves in a position to do so. Mr. Burnett's Report does not contain a recommendation for an inquiry by a Royal Commission. It states that, among other suggestions made to him, it was suggested that further inquiry should be made either by Royal Commission or by the Committee on the Sweating System, and the latter course is the one it is proposed to take.