HC Deb 07 March 1938 vol 332 cc1504-5
7. Mr. Hopkin

asked the Prime Minister how far the compensation for damage to agricultural land in the White Nile Valley, as a result of the Gebel Aulis dam, is met by the sum of £750,000 paid by the Egyptian Government, in view of the fact that compensation at the rate of £50 or more per acre was paid for damage to land caused by the Assouan dam?

The Under-Secretary of Stale for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Butler)

Since the process of assessing compensation for damage resulting from the construction of the Gebel Aulis dam is still in progress, I am unable to state at present what the total liability will be, and how far it will be met by the agreed sum of £E.750,000 paid by the Egyptian Government for this specific purpose in 1932. The rates of compensation paid by the Egyption Government in respect of the flooding of the land by the Assouan dam cannot provide a criterion applicable to this case, since land values in the two districts are in no way comparable.