HC Deb 20 February 1899 vol 66 cc1453-4
MR. SCOTT (Lancashire, Leigh)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will present a Return showing the amounts in which Egypt is stated by him to be indebted for military and financial assistance given by this country in past years for the protection of the frontier of Egypt, and recently for the reconquest of the Soudan, for which amounts it is now proposed to recoup the British Treasury by throwing upon Egypt the whole cost of the administration of our joint possessions in the Soudan; and whether in consideration of the fact that Egypt is to pay the whole of the deficit, the Egyptian Government will be allowed any effective voice in the control of the expenditure?

MR. BRODRICK

There will be no objection to giving the Return asked for if the honourable Member will move for it. It would be impossible under the circumstances of the Soudan to control the Administration either from Cairo or London, but the expenditure will be carefully reviewed by those responsible for the Egyptian Budget.