§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase there has been in the value of the 176,400 Suez Canal shares, purchased by Lord Beaconsfield for £4,000,000 in 1875, since June, 1893, when he valued them at £17,750,000; how much of the remaining purchase money (namely, £195,000) has been paid off since June, 1893; what is the probable amount of revenue, on the basis of the dividends of 1890, 1891, and 1892 that will be divisible among the share- 1044 holders of the Suez Canal in 1894; and whether, assuming the same amount of profits to be maintained, the British Treasury will, in 1894, receive 18 per cent. on the shares purchased in 1875?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT, Derby)(1) There is no change in the value as previously stated, except that the period when dividends will accrue is nearer at hand. (2) £96,589. (3) I cannot state the probable amount of future dividend. (4) Though the dividend will rank in 1894, the first payments will be in the year 1895.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTCan the right hon. Gentleman answer, as to the third paragraph of the question, whether it will be £500,000 or £600,000?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI think I gave them before. Of course, it is a question of calculation whether the dividend of next year will be equal to past years. I could not state that.