§ 19. Sir F. Medlicottasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the British estimate of the cost of the damage done to Egyptian property by the Anglo-French military intervention in the Suez Canal dispute in October and November, 1956.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreHer Majesty's Government have made no estimate of the cost of the damage to Egyptian property resulting from the Allied intervention last year.
§ Sir F. MedlicottIs my right hon. Friend aware that it has been stated in The Times that a reliable estimate of the total figure is £400 million? Can my right hon. Friend say whether any thought was given to this aspect of the matter before the enterprise was launched?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI do not know on what grounds my hon. Friend says that the figure that he mentioned is reliable. [HON. MEMBERS: "The Times."] Even if it comes from The Times I do not see on what grounds my hon. Friend says that 199 it is reliable. No figure has been put forward by the Egyptian Government. I would also say to him that he should also consider what would have been the cost to Egypt if we had not intervened.