§ 37. Mr. Hannahasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the district known as Negeb was one of the most flourishing provinces of the Byzantine Empire; and whether the Government have any plans for making it available to refugees on such a scale as conditions demand?
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)I understand that there is evidence of settlement in the Negeb during the Byzantine period, but that it would be an exaggeration to describe this region as one of the most flourishing provinces of the Byzantine Empire. The possibility of settling refugees in this area is not excluded, but the borings for water which were recently made yielded almost entirely negative results.
§ Mr. HannahHow did the Byzantines get on for water?