§ 33. Mr. Remnantasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial contributions Her Majesty's Government have made to date for the relief of British refugees from Egypt; and to whom these sums have been paid.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe approval of Parliament was given to Supplementary Estimates providing for expenditure amounting to£475,000 in the last financial year for the relief of British subjects from Egypt. Of this,£375,000 was for direct Government expenditure,£30,000 was paid as graint-in-aid to the Anglo-Egyptian Aid Society and£70,000 to the Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board.
In addition, a sum of£40,000 from the Civil Contingencies Fund was paid to enable the Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board to make advances to former pensioners of the Egyptian Government in accordance with the decision announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 5th February.
Estimates for the present financial year provide for expenditure amounting to£750,000, of which£50,000 is for direct Government expenditure and the remainder is for expenditure by the Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board.
§ Mr. RemnantDoes my right hon. Friend mean by that Answer that all those who up to last autumn drew pensions from the Egyptian Government have now had the arrears made good by the Resettlement Board? My information is to the contrary, although I am aware that payment has started in some cases.
§ Mr. ButlerI would not say that the operation was complete. I would say that it was in progress.
§ Mr. RemnantWill my right hon. Friend please expedite it; it seems all wrong?