§ 68. Sir CHARLES CAYZERasked the President of the Board of Trade what specific duties for safeguarding British interests the appointment of the British Government directors to the board of the Suez Canal Company imposes upon them; what the qualifications are upon which the appointment of the Government directors is based; and whether, and how often, they make commercial reports to His Majesty's Government suitable for circulation among British exporting industries?
§ Mr. GILLETTAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Baronet to the reply returned to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) and to my hon. Friend the Member for East Leicester (Mr. Wise) on the 28th April, and, as regards the second part, to the reply returned to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. West Russell) on the 21st April. As regards the third part of the question, no such reports are supplied by the British Government directors, who, however, use their influence to insure that British traders receive a fair share of the orders placed by the Suez Canal Company.
§ Sir C. CAYZERCan the hon. Gentleman say how these gentlemen justify their appointment; and whether the appointments are permanent or subject to revision or change?
§ Mr. GILLETTPerhaps the hon. Member will give me notice of the second part of his supplementary question. The first part, I am afraid, I could not answer in any case.