§ 16. Mr. DOBBIEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that quantities of manufactured timber imported from Finland are made by prison labour; and if he will take that fact into consideration when negotiating a trade agreement with the representatives of Finland?
§ Lieut.-Colonel J. COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)I am not aware that any goods imported into this country from Finland are made by prison labour. In any case, goods proved to the satisfaction of the Customs to have been made by prison labour can be excluded from this country under existing legislation.
§ Mr. DOBBIEWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman be good enough to cause inquiry to be made into those conditions of labour, with a view to safeguarding British workmen?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI will certainly watch that point, but I have already made such inquiries, and I have no information that would lead me to believe that there are any goods of this category coming in.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman finds, in the course of his inquiries, that this timber is cut up by prison labour, will he use his influence with the President of the Board of Trade to have that timber disallowed from coming into this country?
§ Lieut-Colonel COLVILLEThat is a hypothetical question.