HC Deb 11 February 1895 vol 30 cc450-1
MR. W. C. QUILTER (Suffolk, Sudbury)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, under a concession granted by the Belgian Government, cocoa-nut mats are being manufactured by the prisoners in the Colonies-Agricoles at one penny per prisoner per day; that such mats are being imported into this country in great quantities and sold at a price which, whilst leaving a handsome profit, would not in England cover the cost of the labour alone; and, whether he will make a representation to the Belgian Government or take other steps with a view to putting a stop to this competition of prisoners in that country with English free labour, and especially with those engaged in the industry of mat-making in the South Suffolk Division?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, Berwick

Her Majesty's Government are aware that mats are produced in the Belgian Colonies-Agricoles by prison labour at low rates of wages, and that some of these mats are exported to England; but we have no knowledge of their being imported in any large Quantities. Representations on the subject could not with advantage be addressed to Belgium alone, in view of the fact that other Powers permit the employment of prison labour for similar purposes. General diplomatic action abroad, in the sense suggested, would not in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government be likely to be attended with any useful result.

MR. W. C. QUILTER

asked whether the hon. Baronet was aware that the machinery used in these co-called agricultural colonies was imported from an English prison; and whether, after a decision arrived at by the Home Secretary, he did not consider under the circumstances of the case the destruction of British industry like this was not of sufficient importance to warrant him in making representations to the Belgian Government?

SIR E. GREY

We have no knowledge at the Foreign Office whether the machinery was made in England or not; but as far as the information at our disposal goes, I do not think it is a matter in which the Foreign Office could interfere.