HC Deb 19 March 1888 vol 323 cc1629-30
MR. JACOB BRIGHT (Manchester, S.W.)

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he will inform the House whether the Government has appointed, or is about to appoint, officers at Gibraltar whose duty it will be to prevent the smuggling of goods into Spain, when the task of protecting the Spanish Revenue from the smuggler belongs to Spain and not to England?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)

No such appointments have been proposed; but Her Majesty's Government are considering, as a matter of International comity, and in view of British interests, what further measures it would be proper to take in order to prevent the fortress of Gibraltar from being used as the base of illegitimate importations into Spain.

MR. JACOB BRIGHT

asked whether the interests of the legitimate trader would not be affected by any restrictions imposed?

BARON HENRY DE WORMS

The interests of legitimate traders will not be affected, because the measures are for the purpose of preventing illegitimate trading.