§ MR. LABOUCHEREasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any communication has been received from the Governor of Ceylon in respect to the insufficiency of the allowance granted to the Egyptian exiles in that island; and, if so, whether the allowance has been increased since the receipt of that communication; and, what is the amount of the allowance now granted to the exiles?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYYes, Sir. The Governor of Ceylon conveyed to the Colonial Office his opinion that the allowance to the exiles was insufficient. The Colonial Office sent certain communications through the Foreign Office to the Egyptian Government, with the result that the Egyptian Government has consented to allow an extra £500 a-year for the exiles, in addition to the allowance of £30 a-month, which was the original allowance fixed.
§ MR. LABOUCHERECan the hon. Gentleman tell us how much that will be per exile; and also, whether the amount given to each exile is the same as that stated as a minimum by the Governor of Ceylon?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYI do not know how it would be for individual exiles; but it would be about £6 per family per month in addition to the £30. The Governor of Ceylon has expressed his opinion that an additional £15 per month was required.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREMight I ask whether any further communications are about to be made in respect to this case?—because I understand that one of the conditions made when these gentlemen pleaded guilty was that the amount of the allowance to be given to them in Ceylon should be decided by the Governor of that Colony.
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYasked that Notice should be given of the Question.