HC Deb 07 July 1926 vol 197 cc2076-7
40. Sir F. WISE

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if Great Britain has received any substantial railway concessions in Iraq owing to the waiving of the claim of about 94 lakhs of rupees against the Iraq Government?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Amery)

The answer is in the negative. As I have already stated, the claim on account of transferred assets was waived in accordanct with the recommendation of the Financial Mission. The ownership of the railways in Iraq still vests in His Majesty's Government, and the question of their future is under consideration.

Sir F. WISE

Can my right hon. Friend state the actual amount that is waived? I understand that 94 lakhs is not the right amount.

Mr. AMERY

I think the amount waived is, roughly speaking, about £570,000 nominally.

Captain BENN

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House under what statutory or other authority the amount has been waived?

Mr. AMERY

If statutory authority is required, it will, no doubt, be secured. The Iraq Government have been informed that we are not going to press this claim further, in accordance with the Report of the Financial Mission.

Captain BENN

I am asking if the right hon. Gentleman can tell the House under what authority the Government have acted in waiving this claim?

Mr. AMERY

I understand that the Government are entitled to waive a claim if it is not considered that the further pressing of that claim is necessary. If statutory authority should be required, no doubt it will be secured.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that we shall have some opportunity of discussing this gift of public money to the Iraq Government before it actually takes place?

Mr. AMERY

It is not a question of a gift taking place. These are certain claims for work done during the War, which we have pressed in the past, always subject to an undertaking on our part to consider the matter further. The Financial Mission advised the Government not to press this claim. When the Colonial Office Estimates come before the House, that question can be discussed.

Sir ROBERT HAMILTON

Is it not the fact that the sum in question is an agreed debt to the Crown, and can an agreed debt to the Crown be waived without the consent of this House?

Mr. AMERY

As I have repeated more than once, we regard this as a claim which has never been a finally agreed sum.

Sir R. HAMILTON

Was it not agreed in the Financial Agreement as a debt due to the Crown?

Mr. AMERY

The Financial Agreement was accompanied by a Note from the British Government saying that they were prepared to give further consideration as to the amount of that sum, and in the last Treaty an undertaking still further seriously to consider that question was again given by the British Government.

Mr. WALLHEAD

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House when the Government propose to terminate this lavish remission of debts of foreign countries?

Mr. SPEAKER

That question should be addressed to another Minister.