§ 49. Mr. HALESasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the respective date upon which each of the three present holders of directorships of the Suez Canal Company was originally appointed to represent His Majesty's Government?
50 and 51. Lieut.-Colonel SANDEMAN ALLENasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) the circumstances in which the present British official members of the Suez Canal Board were appointed and what constituted their qualifications for the work;
(2) Whether, in view of the existing dissatisfaction at the way in which British shipping and mercantile interests are looked after by the official Government representatives on the Suez Canal Company's Board, he will, as each reappointment becomes necessary, take occasion to change the personnel and nominate persons who have had experience in mercantile ship-owning and export industries?
53. Mr. WEST RUSSELLasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the dates upon which each of the three official Government directors come up for reappointment to the Board of Suez Canal Company?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe three existing British official directors were originally appointed in 1920, 1922 and 1926, respectively, to fill the vacancies caused by the deaths of their predecessors. Their qualifications consisted in previous administrative or business experience in various capacities. They will have completed a period of eight years of office and will accordingly be eligible for reappointment at a general meeting of the company in 1934, 1936 and 1938, respectively. The official directors represent the interests of the Government as a whole and act upon the instructions given to them by the Government; there are in addition seven unofficial British directors representing British shipping and export trade. Accordingly His Majesty's Government do not consider that a change of personnel on the lines suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend would be appropriate, but I can assure him that they will keep all the relevant considerations constantly in view.