HL Deb 19 July 1994 vol 557 cc26-7WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What evidence has been submitted to the Customs and Exercise that chain hoists imported from China by a Coventry firm were manufactured with the aid of forced labour, contrary to the Prison Made Goods Act 1897, and when they expect to make a decision on whether to bring proceedings under the Act.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment (Lord Henley)

Information recently received by HM Customs and Excise has been carefully analysed and found not to constitute satisfactory evidence that chain hoists imported from China had been manufactured by forced labour. In the absence of such evidence no proceedings may be brought under the Act.