HC Deb 18 June 1897 vol 50 cc371-2
MR. THOMAS BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)

I beg to ask the Attorney General (1) has his attention been called to the fact that, on the mainland in the British Protectorate of Zanzibar, British subjects are administering the law which acknowledges the legal status of slavery; (2) whether there are Orders in Council applying to the mainland opposite Zanzibar the claims of the Indian Act against slavery; and (3) whether it is lawful for a British subject to detain a slave against his will in territories under British administration?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER,) Isle of Wight

My attention has not been called to the facts stated in the first paragraph of the hon. Member's Question, but I believe that it is the fact that on the mainland dominions of the Sultan of Zanzibar officers of the British Protectorate superintend the administration of the native law as affecting his subjects. There are no Orders in Council applying to them when acting in this capacity. The answer to the third paragraph is in the negative; but I am not aware that any case of the kind has arisen.