§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has carried out the unanimous Resolution of the House of Commons on 19th February, and taken steps to restrict the importation of goods made in foreign prisons by the forced labour of convicts and felons?
§ MR. BRYCEsaid, that he had caused inquiries to be instituted as to what steps could be taken. The matter was not one that could be dealt with without full information.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTHas the right hon. Gentleman given notice of the introduction of a Bill on the subject, or can he fix the date for doing so?
§ MR. BRYCEAs I have said, I am occupied in making inquiries, and until they are further advanced I cannot take any other steps.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake that the Bill shall be introduced directly after Easter?
§ MR. BRYCEI have already said that, pending the inquiries I am now making, and the information which I 934 shall receive from them, I cannot give such an undertaking.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTI am sorry to press the right hon. Gentleman, but I must call his attention to the fact that the Motion which was accepted by the Government directed that steps should be taken at once. Unless some steps are taken I shall have to consider whether it will not be necessary to move the adjournment.