§ 15. Mr. PONSONBYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is with the concurrence of His Majesty's Government that the present Egyptian Ministry have decided to press forward at once the Jebel Awlia project of a dam on the Nile waters in the Sudan, in defiance of decisions of previous Egyptian constitutional Governments, which were accepted by His Majesty's Government, that this and similar projects should be submitted to a committee of neutral technical experts and not be proceeded with until they had been sanctioned by the Egyptian Parliament?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe Jebel Awlia reservoir has long been recognised by the highest technical opinion as necessary in the interests of Egypt, and further reference to a technical commission would only have been desirable if it was a question as to whether the Jebel Awlia reservoir or the alternative of raising the Assouan dam should be proceeded with. Now that the Egyptian Government have decided to carry out both projects, there is no need of further technical consultation in the case of Jebel Awlia, provided that arrangements for its construction and operation are worked out in agreement with the Sudan Government, so as to insure that the interests of the riverain inhabitants do not suffer, and no question of the concurrence of His Majesty's Government will arise. The technical problems involved in the raising of the Assouan dam are, in fact, being studied by an international commission appointed by the Egyptian Government.
§ Mr. THURTLEWill the right hon. Gentleman direct his attention to the last sentence of the question, which points out that His Majesty's Government have previously agreed that they should await the sanction of the Egyptian Parliament? In view of the fact that the sanction of the Egyptian Parliament has not yet been obtained to this project, will the Government see that no action is taken?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI thought I had already explained that that was when the Jebel Awlia dam was an alternative to the Assouan dam. Both are now going to be carried out.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYWill the riverside inhabitants who are displaced be compensated by the Egyptian or by the Sudan Government?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI must have notice of that question; it does not arise out of the question on the Paper.