§ MR. HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is in a position to state who will be the delegates of the United Kingdom at the Labour Conference convened by His Imperial Majesty the German Emperor; what is the nature of their general instructions; and if they will be authorised to advocate the adaptation of the hours of continental labour in mines and upon Sundays to the standard prevailing by custom in this 876 country, and also to urge the adoption of factory legislation analogous to that in force in the United Kingdom?
§ * MR. C. GRAHAMBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, may I ask if he is in the possession of any information which warrants the assumption that the hours of labour in continental mines are any shorter than those in the English and Scottish mines?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONIf the hon. Member for Lanark wishes to put a further question I must ask him to give notice of it. In reply to the question of the hon. Member for Sheffield (Mr. H. Vincent), I have to say that Her Majesty will be represented by four Plenipotentiaries: the right hon. Sir John Eldon Gorst, Q.C., M.P.; Mr. Charles Stewart Scott, C.B., Her Majesty's Minister at Berne; Sir William Henry Houldsworth, Bart., M.P., and Mr. David Dale (of Sir Joseph Pease and Co.). The following gentlemen will be expert delegates:—Mr. Frederick H. Whymper, one of Her Majesty's Superintending Inspectors of Factories; Mr. Thomas Burt, M.P.; Mr. John Burnett, Labour Correspondent of the Board of Trade; and Mr. Birtwistle, Secretary to the United Weavers' Association. The nature of their instructions is in conformity with the terms of the reply of Her Majesty's Government to the German Government. It is not usual to state the particulars.
§ * MR. C. GRAHAMThere is one body of thought among the working classes which is practically unrepresented. While I admit that everyone reposed great confidence in Mr. Burt, the section I allude to as being unrepresented is the class which has confidence in Mr. John Burns; and I wish to ask whether there is still time to consider the propriety of nominating Mr. Burns as one of the expert delegates?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONIt is impossible that all schools of thought or that all interests should be separately represented; but if Her Majesty's Plenipotentiaries find it necessary to ask for further expert assistance, I have no doubt their recommendations will be complied with.