§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with reference to the Answer given by him to a Question asked on the 4th December, 1906,† whether it is not in the power of the Egyptian Government to obtain from the Court of Appeal of the mixed tribunals power to apply factory legislation to Europeans, provided that the punishment for infraction does not exceed les peines de simple police; and whether, having regard to this fact, he
† See (4) Debates, clxvi., 747.696 will advise the Egyptian Government to introduce legislation regulating the hours of labour, fencing of machinery, and sanitary conditions, in factories and mines.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI have had a report on this subject since the Question referred to in December, and am informed that a Factory Act, however desirable, would require the assent of fifteen different Powers, which it would practically be impossible to obtain. I will make inquiry as to the statement contained in the first part of the Question.