§ *SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, if, having regard to the impossibility of overcoming the opposition, after midnight, to the Bill for restricting the importation of goods made in Foreign prisons, he can now, having the whole time of the House at command, see his way to afford an opportunity for its consideration?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.In answer to my hon. Friend, I have to remind him of the state of public business, which I think will convince him and all impartial critics of the Government that for the present, at all 348 events, it is impossible for me to give any pledges with regard to taking the Bills of private Members, however important they may be and however anxious the Government may be to see them passed.
§ *SIR HOWARD VINCENTMay I remind the right hon. Gentleman of his previous statement on this Question and the anxiety expressed by him on behalf of the Government that this Bill should be passed into law?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI do not know that I have made any previous statement inconsistent with what I have just said. If my hon. Friend could call my attention to any such statement I should be obliged to him. [Laughter.]