§ MR. LOWLES (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if, having regard to his address to the electors of Croydon in 1895, the statement in the Queen's Speech of 1896 that a measure dealing with the immigration of destitute aliens had been prepared, and to his declaration in 1897 that the Government would not depart one iota from their pledges (a declaration repeated in the course of last session), he will impress upon his colleagues the absolute necessity of dealing with the matter when Parliament reassembles.
§ MR. RITCHIEI quite understand my hon. friend's desire to obtain a forecast of the legislation of next session, especially as to a measure in which I know he takes much interest, but I am afraid it would be contrary to well-recognised practice if I were to indicate what representations I should make to my colleagues in respect of any particular measure.