HC Deb 03 February 1893 vol 8 cc399-400
COLONEL HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury what effect Her Majesty's Government proposes to give to the resolutions adopted by the Trades Unions Congress at Glasgow in September last, representing some 418 societies, and 1,219,934 artisans, with respect to Steps being taken to prevent the State purchasing materials for the postal and other branches of the Civil Service from Bavaria, and to ensure their being purchased front home manufacturers;" "to prevent the landing of foreign pauper aliens on our shores" and "for the restriction of foreign labour in loading and discharging ships in Great Britain and Ireland.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh, Midlothian

In answer to the hon. and gallant Member, I have to say that as regards the part of the question referring to the landing of pauper aliens on our shores, as that is the subject of a notice given by an hon. Gentleman opposite in the Debate now proceeding, it would be decidedly inconvenient to enter upon the matter in answer to a question. With reference to the first part of the question, as to the purchase of materials by branches of the Civil Service front home manufacturers, the Legislature has by a series of Acts made careful provision that the whole of the community shall have free access upon equal terms to all products whatever, in whatever country produced; and it appears to me that those Acts of the Legislature are presumably a guide for the Executive Government. It would be a singular step for an Executive Government its own discretion to allow the course of legislative precedents to be infringed. I will also say that there are no facts before me on this subject, and, of course, if any facts do come to the knowledge of the Government that admit of being examined—if they come to the knowledge of any Department of the Government—they will be duly examined. The third part of the question asks about "the restriction of foreign labour in loading and discharging ships in Great Britain mid Ireland." I am not aware, Sir, that the Government have any power to interfere for the purpose of dictating to those who load and discharge ships in Great Britain and Ireland whether they should do it by means of foreign or of home labour.