§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received strong evidence of the feeling of the silver trade that Hall-marking should still continue compulsory; and whether, before any proposal is laid before Parliament to abolish the Import Duty now levied upon foreign plate, he will take care that the trades likely to be affected in their capacity for giving employment to the industrial population at home by the probable increase in the competition of inferior foreign and Indian plate, if the duty be taken off, will have full opportunity of being heard?
§ *MR. GOSCHENI have received evidence that there is a strong feeling on the part of at least a portion of the silver trade that Hall-marking should continue compulsory. I think that the trades to which the hon. Member refers already have full opportunity of making themselves heard, and that they are, as a matter of fact, making themselves heard in the public discussion which is taking place.