§ 27. Captain ORMSBY-GOREasked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs(1) whether Lord Milner's Commission on Egypt will commence by taking evidence regarding the past and present machinery in London dealing with Egyptian affairs; (2) what other persons, in addition to Lord Milner, have been invited to form the special Commission to deal with the future government of Egypt; whether this Com mission will investigate the conditions of service, pay, and pension of British Civil servants in the service of the Egyptian Government; whether evidence will be accepted from Members of this House and any other persons in this country who desire to submit recommendations in regard to the subjects which come within 17 the terms of reference of the Commission; and whether a proposal to establish a separate unified Ministry of Imperial administration in Civil Service for dealing with Egypt, Sudan, Somaliland, Aden, the Persian Gulf, Mesopotamia, Cyprus, and Palestine, will come within the subjects upon which the Commission may make recommendations?
Mr. HARMSWORTHIn reply to this and question No. 28 from the hon. and gallant Member, no other Members have yet been invited to form part of the Special Mission. As has already been indicated the Mission will enjoy very wide powers for the purposes of its inquiry and report, but I am not at present able to define exactly what those powers will be.
Mr. HARMSWORTHNo, as I think I informed the hon. and gallant Gentleman a few days ago that I am not in possession of that information.
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe Government is devoting a great part of its attention to this precise question at this moment.