§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Her Majesty's Government will introduce the Bill to restrict the importation of goods made in foreign prisons by the forced labour of convicts and felons, in accordance with the unanimous Resolution of the House on February 19?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThe Government stated that this is a matter that cannot be undertaken without careful inquiry, and I am not able to state when the Government will introduce the Bill. They will make inquiry, and it will be after that inquiry.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTAs the right hon. Gentleman was not present in the House on Tuesday last, I wish to ask whether he has read the Resolution of the House, which declared that it is incumbent on Her Majesty's Government, in the interests of the industrial classes of the United Kingdom, at once to take steps to restrict the importation of foreign prison-made goods, and whether he proposes to disregard that unanimous Resolution of the House?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTNo, Sir; I have no intention of proposing anything of the kind. On the contrary. At the same time the Government cannot undertake to deal without consideration with a matter which in their opinion requires consideration.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThat I cannot say.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTI will repeat the question.