MR. FIELDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether large quantities of manufactured goods, mainly produced by unpaid convict prison labour in Germany, are frequently surreptitiously imported into those Kingdoms, and whether the carriage is cheapened by preferential rates; and whether he will have inquiry made into this matter as affecting the industrial progress and taxpaying interest of this country?
§ MR. MUNDELLAWe understand that prison labour is used in some industrial productions in Germany, but the Board of Trade have received no complaints in the matter. I am assured that there are no surreptitious imports into this country, and we are not aware of any preferential rates on German manufactures.