§ 29. Mr. HERBERT GIBSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether boots and shoes made by convict labour in Sing Sing Prison, America, are imported and sold in Great Britain?
Mr. GRAHAMI have no information that boots and shoes, made as stated in the question, have been imported into the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. McSHANEWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries whether there are such boots imported?
Mr. GRAHAMUnder the Foreign Prison Made Goods Act, 1897, there is power to deal with a matter of this kind if we get information, but in all these cases I have never been able to get precise information from anyone.
§ Sir KINGSLEY WOODSurely the Labour party will not object to boots and shoes coming in.
Mr. GRAHAMI have received a goad many documents in my time, but the Rouse must understand that we require information to be tendered to the Customs or other authorities before we can act. That information I have never been able to get.
Lieut. - Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLIf the right bon. Gentleman finds that there is any truth in the suggestion in this question, will he take steps to prohibit the importation of such articles?
Mr. GRAHAMOf course, that is hypothetical. I must get the information, and, if the case falls within the Act, it is for the Government to decide whether steps should be taken.
§ Sir K. WOODIs it not a fact that, whatever the right hon. Gentleman proposes, the Liberals will not let him do it?