§ 25. Mr. Hirstasked the Lord Privy Seal how much of the funds allotted to Great Britain under the Financial Agreement with Egypt have been paid out as a result of assessed Egyptianisation claims and as a result of assessed claims arising out of sequestrated property, respectively.
§ Mr. HeathUp to midday on 19th April, 1961, the Foreign Compensation Commission had made interim payments amounting to £6,256,037 in respect of 338 claims for Egyptianised property, and £341,880 in respect of 317 claims for losses arising on sequestrated property.
§ Mr. HirstWould my right hon. Friend agree that that absolutely underlines the case which I have so often made and which I must make again—that the repayments are totally inadequate out of the orignal fund of £27½ million, and are undermining confidence in the Government with the matter going on year after year?
§ Mr. HeathAs I have explained before, the reason for the gap between the amount so far paid out and the total compensation is due to the many claims for desequestration which have still to be made and which can be met only as property is taken back by the owners, which is bound to take a certain amount of time.
§ Mr. HirstOn a point of order. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter at a later date.