§ 5. Mr. A. HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the names of the unofficial British directors on the board of the Suez Canal Company, the dates of their appointment, the amount of remuneration paid to them annually, and the net profits of the company for the year 1934–35?
§ Mr. EDENI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 18th March to the hon. Member for Southwark, Central (Mr. Day), to which I need only add that the net profits of the company for the year 1935 were approximately 553,000,000 French francs.
§ Mr. HENDERSONHow do the profits for that year compare with the previous year?
§ Mr. EDENI am afraid I cannot say. It is a private company and has nothing to do with the Government.
§ Mr. HENDERSONThe right hon. Gentleman has given the figures for 1934–35; can he not give them for 1933–34?
§ Mr. EDENI cannot without notice. I have given the figures, although I have no responsibility for them, merely as an act of courtesy to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. SHINWELLDoes the right hon. Gentleman suggest that the Government are not interested in the Suez Canal?