§ MR. HENRY (Shropshire, Wellington)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what course will be adopted to have tested the material that will be employed by the Compagnie de Fives-Lille in the order given that firm for bridges over the Nile; what arrangements have been made to have the bridges inspected whilst in course of construction and when completed; and if, when deciding to accept the tender of the French firm, any account was taken of the extra cost that might be involved in testing and inspecting in excess of what would have been incurred if the work had been executed in this country.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI am not in a position to answer the first and second parts of the Question, the subject of which is a matter concerning the internal administration of Egypt, who have hitherto taken adequate measures to ensure good work and good material. I can, if desired, ascertain what the practice of the Egyptian Government is in such matters. As regards the last part of the Question, I am not aware that any saving would be entailed to the Egyptian Government in the cost of testing and inspecting if the work were executed by a British firm. The Egyptian Government must presumably treat British and foreign work without discrimination.