MR. PASSMORE EDWARDSasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign 1726 Affairs, Whether he will state the number of acres definitely surveyed by the Egyptian Land Revenue Survey Department, with a staff of one hundred and eleven European officers established under Sir A. Colvin in February 1879, and the aggregate expenses incurred by the Department, including the salaries of the officers; and, whether the said Survey Department was considered successful; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government intend to recommend its re-establishment on its former footing and with the same European Officers?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICESir, the last Report of the work of the Egyptian Cadastral Survey in the possession of the Foreign Office supplies details to the date of December 31,1881.At that date the lands appertaining to 392 villages had been under survey, and 302,264 feddans had been completed. On the 1st of January, 1882,it appears that 5,223,000 feddans remained to be surveyed, which it was anticipated would be executed at the rate of 500,000 feddans annually. A sum of £70,000, of which £59,000 re presents salaries, was taken for the expenses of the Cadastre in the Budget of 1882. From the Reports which have reached Her Majesty's Government from Egypt, and which will be laid before Parliament, there is reason to believe that this Department of the Egyptian Government will require thorough re organization.