§ 2. Mr. QUIBELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the names of the unofficial British directors on the board of the Suez Canal Company, and the date of appointment?
Mr. A. HENDERSONI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I returned on Monday last to a similar question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy).
§ Mr. QUIBELLWill the right hon. Gentleman say what are the duties of this office, and when and where performed?
§ 40. Sir CHARLES CAYZERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what instructions were given by the Treasury to the representatives of His Majesty's Government on the board of the Suez Canal Company with regard to the proposal to use some of the funds of the Suez Canal Company to finance an industrial trust company in Luxemburg?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence)No instructions in regard to this investment were asked for by, nor given to, the British Government directors of the Suez Canal Company.
§ Sir C. CAYZERIn view of the widespread demand for a reduction of the canal dues, does the hon. Gentleman consider it proper for this company to invest large sums of money outside its own business in Continental industry which is directly competing with our own, and what action does he propose to take in the matter?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI have already said, in answer to the question, that no instructions were given. I do not adopt the view of the hon. Member as regards the fears which he has expressed.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYAre we to understand that general instructions are given to the representatives of His Majesty's Government to watch British interests?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThat does not arise out of the question.