HC Deb 28 April 1899 vol 70 cc822-3
MR. STEADMAN (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Consuls at Florence and Milan did in conjunction with the mayors of those places sign or countersign the contracts of the foreign plasterers imported into England during the present dispute in the plastering trade; and, if so, whether they were acting within their right as representatives of the British Government?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. ST. JOHN BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)

Her Majesty's Consuls having been asked to report on this subject, Her Majesty's Consul at Milan has stated that no such contracts have been signed or countersigned by him. Neither he nor the municipal authorities know of the existence of any such contracts. No reply has yet been received from Florence.