§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the absence of any mention of an Alien Immigration Regulation Bill in the gracious Speech from the Throne is an indication that His Majesty's Government has abandoned its intention to introduce legislation upon the question, in spite of the declarations thereon of the Prime Minister on 17th July, 1894, and 23rd May, 1898, and of the Home Secretary (when President of the Board of Trade) on 10th February, 1897.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo, Sir. As my hon. friend is aware, the absence of a particular measure from enumeration in the King's Speech by no means indicates, one way or the other, the policy of the Government.
§ SIR HOWAED VINCENTCan my right hon. friend mention a date when the Bill will be brought in?
§ [No answer was given.]