§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSON (Northumberland, Tyneside)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the facts that the earnings of the Egyptian State railways for 1905 showed an increased return per cent. on the increased capital outlay of recent years, that many of the carriages are dilapidated and insufficiently lighted, that many of the engines are from thirty to fifty-five years old, and that the tariffs for passengers and goods are higher than those of most European countries, he will advise the Egyptian Government to improve the condition of the rolling stock and at the same time to reduce passenger fares and goods rates.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickI cannot undertake to interfere with the administration of the Egyptian State railways.