§ 34. Colonel DAYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any progress has been made between the British and Egyptian authorities on the question of the retention of foreign officials in the service of the Egyptian Government; if so, what percentage of foreign officials have been retained; how 1262 many of these are British; and what is the length of the contracts offered by the Egyptian Government to these officials?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI understand that the Egyptian Government has decided to offer contracts for one, two or three years, to some 80 per cent. of the foreign officials whose term of regular service expired recently. Of these, 350 are British. The figures I have just given do not include recently engaged foreign officials already serving on contracts.
§ Colonel DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the figures are satisfactory to the British officials in Egypt?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI do not think I can answer that question.