HC Deb 22 March 1886 vol 303 cc1478-9
SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If it is true, as stated in the public prints, that the subordinate native servants of the Egyptian Government, and the families of deceased officers and soldiers, have been deprived of the pensions to which the rules of the Service entitled them, while the claims of the more highly paid Europeans are maintained intact; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will insist that, so long as the British Government occupies and defends Egypt, the natives shall not be treated less fairly than the Europeans?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. BRYCE) (Aberdeen, S.)

The whole system of Egyptian Pensions has been for some time under examination by a Committee at Cairo, and a new Pension Law is in course of preparation. The statements referred to by the hon. Member are not confirmed by any information in the possession of Her Majesty's Government, who have no reason to believe that any valid claims have been disregarded, or that Natives have been treated less fairly than Europeans. It has been, and continues to be, the policy of Her Majesty's Government to take all possible steps within the sphere of their action for securing the fair treatment of Natives.

SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL

asked whether the hon. Gentleman would cause inquiry to be made as to the truth of the statements?

MR. BRYCE

If my hon. Friend will indicate any particular point, inquiry will no doubt be made.