HC Deb 10 December 1929 vol 233 cc229-31
39. Commander BELLAIRS

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a part of Soviet Russian

cession shall be made to any foreign country which will not be equally available for Australia and other Overseas Dominions?

Mr. HARRIS

Is it not a fact that, while the Argentine Government reduced their duties on textiles, the Australian Government have within the last few weeks increased them?

Following is the reply:

timber is produced by the large prisoner camps; and what steps he is taking to stop the illegal importation of such products of prison labour into this country?

Mr. W. GRAHAM

As the hon. and gallant Member was informed on the 10th July, I have no information as to the conditions under which Russian timber is being produced. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

Commander BELLAIRS

Will the Government take steps to find out whether this timber is produced by Russian prisoner labour, and also by labour conscripted by press-gangs; and, if so, is it the policy of the Government to tolerate such conditions?

Mr. BECKETT

On a point of Order. Is it in order, in a supplementary question, to make insulting insinuations about Russia?

Mr. R. A. TAYLOR

May I ask, Mr. Speaker, whether it has not been the practice of yourself and your predecessors to rule that hon. Members should make themselves responsible for statements of fact contained in their questions; and may I ask whether the hon. and gallant Member has given these facts to the President of the Board of Trade?

Mr. SPEAKER

Undoubtedly it is the case that, when an hon. Member states facts, he must make himself responsible for those facts.

Commander BELLAIRS

I make myself responsible for the question that I have asked. I have asked the Government to make inquiries.