§ MR. QUILTER (Suffolk, Sudbury)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is in a position to state what is the daily average number of prisoners employed in mat making; how many of that number are working for the Prison Department; how many have their labour let out to the trade; and what proportion of the last-named are working on behalf of the firm of Goodacre & Company, of West Ham and Glemsford?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. STUART WORTLEY,) Sheffield, HallamThe Secretary of State is informed by the Prison Commissioners that the daily average for the last year was 1,218, and that this number has since been reduced. Of these, as far as can be estimated, 288 were working for the Prison Department, and 930 had their labour let out to the trade. Of these latter 532 worked for Messrs. Goodacre.
§ * MR. QUILTERDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that 930 out of 1,218 is a very large proportion of prison labour to hire out in competition with free labour in a limited trade?
§ * MR. STUART WORTLEYThat is a matter for Debate.