§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign 1470 Affairs whether, seeing that Englishmen seeking to qualify by examination for posts and promotion in the Egyptian Government service are allowed to answer the questions set them in their own language, he will advise the Egyptian Government to accord native Egyptians who present themselves at examinations for primary and secondary certificates, for diplomas granted by the higher or technical schools and professional colleges, and for posts and promotion in the Egyptian Government service, the option of answering questions in their own language.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe particular changes advocated in this Question are part of the general question of the encouragement of teaching in Arabic. This was dealt with recently in a speech of the Minister of Instruction, which has been presented to Parliament, and from which will be seen the extent to which the question occupies his attention. Any changes which are made must be upon the initiative of the Egyptian Government, and pending any further pronouncement by them I can give no more information.