§ MR. T. BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)I beg to ask the Attorney General whether Her Majesty's subjects can legally own or employ slaves in the British Protectorate of Zanzibar?
§ SIR J. RIGBY(who replied) said: Her Majesty's subjects cannot legally own slaves in the British Protectorate of Zanzibar; but I have already explained that they may, and do, employ slaves for various purposes, engaging with them and paying them as they would free labour.
§ MR. CONYBEAREOn a point of Order, is not that a legal opinion, such as the hon. and learned Gentleman has refused to give me?
§ SIR J. RIGBYThe legal opinion which the hon. Member for Camborne asked for was one affecting the rights of an individual. I am not aware that any British subject ever sought to own slaves in the Zanzibar Protectorate. This is an important general question quite different from the one put by the hon. Member.
§ MR. CONYBEAREDoes not a question as to slaves affect individuals? Why could I not have equally an answer to a question affecting one of Her Majesty's subjects?
MR. DEPUTY SPEAKERThe matter is entirely in the discretion of the Minister to whom the question is addressed.