§ MR. T. L. CORBETTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any information as to the number of those belonging to illegal orders in France who have removed to England; whether he is aware that cruelty and sweating were proved against the institutions conducted by these orders in France; and whether he proposes to take any steps to secure their adequate inspection in England.
§ MR. MEEHAN (Queen's County, Leix)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the earnings of these religious institutions are spent in the service of and for the benefit of the poor? Does the hon. Member who put this Question pay all his employees a just wage and find them suitable conditions to live in; is this country to become the persecutors of those who give their lives and fortunes to the service of the poor?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder! order! Notice of this Question should be handed in at the Table.
§ * MR. GLADSTONEI have no official information. The question of the regulation of industrial work in religious and charitable institutions, when carried on by way of trade, is now under consideration; but apart from this I cannot take any action with a view to the inspection of religious institutions.
§ MR. T. L. CORBETTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these charges of cruelty and sweating were made on the authority of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Nantes, and were directed against an order which has since removed to England? In view of the large number of these orders now in England—they total twenty-one, I believe—is that not sufficient——
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder! order! The hon. Member is trying to make a speech under the guise of a Question.
§ MR. SLOANDoes the right hon. Gentleman contemplate introducing legislation on the subject next session?
§ MR. T. L. CORBETTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very strong comments made by the Bishop of Nantes 'i
§ * MR. GLADSTONEThey have not come to my knowledge.
§ MR. T. L. CORBETTWould the right hon. Gentleman like to see them 1
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLNO, he would not.