§ MR. ASQUITH (Fifeshire, E.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the Prevention of Corruption Bill, introduced by the Lord Chief Justice, has passed through the House of Lords, and that the principle of the Bill has received the approval of the Association of Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom, of the Congress of the Co-operative Societies, and of numerous chambers of trade, trade associations, and trade protection societies throughout the country, Her Majesty's Government will consider the expediency of themselves introducing legislation, at an early opportunity, for the purpose of dealing with the evils against which the Bill is directed.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIn answer to the right hon. Gentleman, I am bound to say that this Bill comes before us with very high credentials, but I can hardly commit myself to any promise of Government legislation without further con- 657 sideration than I have been able to give to the matter.