§ MR. SCOTT (Lancashire, Leigh)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the statement made in the public Press to the effect that, under the name of the Railway Brigade, large numbers of artisans and labourers from Egypt have been compelled to construct the railway to Khartoum at a nominal rate of wages and are still employed on similar work; and whether, if the facts be as stated, steps will be taken by Her Majesty's Government to put an end to a system of forced labour, under cover of military service, which is now illegal?
§ MR. BRODRICKWe have heard nothing of the compulsory employment on the railway of artisans and labourers, The Soudan Railways, including that to Khartoum, were constructed primarily for military purposes, and, so far, entirely by military labour: the employees are soldiers.