§ 35. Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for War the total value of the military installations, stores, weapons, and vehicles owned by his Department in Egypt before it was decided to 195 evacuate our forces; what amount has been sold to the Egyptian Government; and what amount has been transferred to that Government without payment.
§ Mr. HeadThe scrap value of our military installations was about £4 million. Of these £2,870,000 worth have been transferred under the Treaty to the Egyptian Government and about £460,000 worth have so far been bought by them. The stores, weapons and vehicles held in the Canal Zone were estimated to be worth about £210 million at replacement value in 1953. About £750,000 worth have been sold to the Egyptian Government and none of these stores has been transferred free.
§ Mr. ShinwellDo they include the stores at Tel-el-Kebir, and what value does the right hon. Gentleman place on those stores? Have any of them been transferred to the Egyptian Government?
§ Mr. HeadNo, Sir, as I said, only the fixed installations, which were transferred under the agreement of the Treaty. Of the remaining stores nothing has been transferred free, although stores have been sold, and they have been restricted to avoid stores of what one might call an offensive kind.
§ Mr. ShinwellI did not ask about stores in the Canal Zone but about stores in Egypt generally. What about the stores in Tel-el-Kebir? Have any been transferred to the Egyptian Government?