§ 46. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British subjects who left Egypt since 1st November, 1956, and were in possession of certificates from Her Majesty's Consul at Port Said have had the Egyptian currency they brought with them exchanged for sterling at par; and what was the amount involved.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Ian Harvey)Eighty-six British subjects holding Consular certificates have had their currency exchanged; the amount involved was£63,664 10s.
§ 47. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British subjects who left Egypt since 1st November, 1956, without a certificate from Her Majesty's Consul at Port Said, have applied to his Department to exchange the Egyptian currency they brought with them for sterling at par and have had their applications refused; and what was the amount involved.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyEighteen written applications have been refused on the grounds that the applicants did not hold Consular certificates; the amount involved totalled£13,895. In addition to these written applications, about a dozen personal inquiries have been received, but the amount of currency involved in these cases is not known.
§ Mr. JohnsonIn view of the very small sum involved, does not my hon. Friend think it would be a generous act to allow those people who have not these certificates to exchange their currency in the same way? Is it not rather unfair that 866 they should be penalised because the machinery for issuing the certificates had not been set up at the time they left?
§ Mr. HarveyThe position is a little different. The concession with regard to the certificates was granted because there was a widespread impression that a promise had been given that people who held Consular certificates would have their currency exchanged at par. People who did not hold certificates cannot claim that they were so misled.