§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he has now received information as to the recent manufacture of about 30,000 waist belts and 7,000 pairs of gaiters for the British Army by French soldiers undergoing sentence in a French military prison; and, up to what date did this employment of foreign penal labour at low rates, upon the clothing and accoutrements of the British Army, continue?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)Since the hon. Member asked me a Question on this subject I have received a statement from the contractors, whose good faith I have no reason to doubt, that in 1885 and 1886, when there was very great pressure on the English trade, they had the sewing of certain articles done in a military fort where French soldiers were detained for offences against military discipline, to the extent of about 4 per cent of an order which they held for accoutrements; but that they have not employed this source of supply for any work they have started for Government during the last two 37 years. As regards gaiters, they made some at the fort for a private firm; and the contractors believe that a portion of them were afterwards submitted by that firm to the Clothing Department. I think the hon. Member will, therefore, see that there is some exaggeration in the Question. But I have no wish to encourage this supply of goods from foreign sources; and I have given directions for a modification to be made in the form of future contracts, which will, I hope, prevent its recurrence.
§ MR. HANBURYAs the right hon. Gentleman mentioned exaggeration, can he deny that these are the correct figures?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEsaid, that 4 per cent was very different to 30,000.
§ MR. HANBURYI got the figures from the contractors themselves.