§ 34. Mr. Iremongerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former British officials of the Egyptian Government have applied for assistance to the Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board, and with what result; what alternative schemes have been submitted to him for assisting these British subjects; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI understand that the Board has received twenty-eight such applications, of which seven have been granted, eleven have been refused and ten are being examined. As regards the second part of the Question, representations have been made that former officials of the Egyptian Government dismissed in 1951 should be treated on the same footing for ex gratia loans as British subjects who were compelled to leave Egypt as a result of the events of last year; but their circumstances are not the same.
§ Mr. IremongerIs my right hon. Friend aware that the injustice to which these 554 people have been subjected has been going on for far too long, and will he urge upon his right hon. Friend that a statement be made and say that the position must be given the highest priority for consideration?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir, so long as we do not confuse the two classes of persons, namely, the officials of 1951 and before and the residents. I would say that we would do our best for all of them, but there are different considerations affecting the two categories.