HC Deb 26 June 1957 vol 572 cc187-9
13. Mr. Remnant

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total amount of claims by British nationals for losses resulting from their expulsion from Egypt, other than pensions.

The Minister of State, Foreign Affairs (Mr. David Ormsby-Gore)

The amount of claims by British nationals arising from this and other actions of the Egyptian Government can only be known when British assets in Egypt have been desequestrated and owners have had access to their property.

Mr. Remnant

In the meantime does my right hon. Friend really expect these subjects to exist on air? Cannot some interim payment on account be made out of the blocked Egyptian sterling account?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

That is quite a different question which has been answered in considerable detail by my right hon. and learned Friend on previous occasions, but I think the whole House knows that considerable measures have been taken to relieve the distress of these British nationals.

Mr. Stokes

Leaving aside the large vested interests, is the Minister aware that the losses incurred by private individuals are assessed by them to be about £30 million? As these individuals have all been ruined as a result of the action taken by Her Majesty's Govern- ment, surely the Government have a responsibility whether they recover from the Egyptian Government or not?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

We do not accept responsibility for this loss. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] It was a result of the action of the Egyptian Government and not of Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Bevan

The original Question was, what is the total amount of the claims by British nationals—not what is the ascertained amount ultimately but what are the claims? Surely the hon. Member has the amount of the claims?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

One cannot make an accurate assessment of the claims unless one has access to this property, but of course anybody is free to make an estimate of the claims. I do not think it would be very helpful to those people we all want to help if we were to disclose any figure we have been given at the present moment.

Mr. Bevan

With respect, why does not the Foreign Office answer the Question? It is not what might be the ultimate assessment but what is the total amount of the claims? We know very well that we cannot act on that, but it is the assessment of the claimants of what they consider belongs to them. Surely that figure could be given without any embarrassment to anybody?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I do not think that is the case. If we are to have fruitful negotiations with the Egyptian Government about this matter, I think it may be just as well if we do not disclose any figure of what are the claims.

Mr. Remnant

Does my right hon. Friend mean that he proposes to demand from the Egyptian Government more than the claims? Can he say why these claimants should not receive some payment on account at the expense of the Egyptian Government?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I have already said that the question of payment on account is a different matter. I will draw it to the attention of my right hon. and learned Friend, but there have been numerous answers on that topic before.

Mr. Stokes

Is not this all nonsense? Is not the Minister perfectly aware that a committee representing all these private individuals has stated categorically what are their claims? Does he pretend that the Egyptian Government do not know? Surely he is fooling himself.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

That organisation does not know about all the claims. A number of people have put in their claims through that organisation, but other claims have been put in only to the Foreign Office.

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