HL Deb 11 December 1956 vol 200 cc841-3
LORD MACPHERSON OF DRUMOCHTER

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their attention has been drawn to the Blue Nile Dam Scheme at Roseires, now being sponsored by the Sudan Government; and whether they will give full support to this scheme in every way they can, particularly by sponsoring the financing of the proposal to the World Bank and by advising the Sudan Government that the £20 million sterling earmarked for the Sudan in the blocked Egyptian Sterling Fund will be released for this purpose.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF READING)

Her Majesty's Government are certainly aware of the Sudan Government's intention to build a dam at Roseires, for which a British firm has been appointed as consulting engineers. The Government have not been informed how the Sudanese Government intend to finance the project. But should the Sudan decide to seek finance from the International Bank, once they have completed the formalities required for membership, only the Sudanese Government could formally sponsor the project. I think that the last point in the noble Lord's Question must refer to the entirely separate matter of securing the repatriation of the Egyptian currency at present circulating in the Sudan. It is not correct to say that any particular sum has been earmarked for this purpose.

LORD MACPHERSON OF DRUMOCHTER

My Lords, while thanking the noble Marquess for his reply, may I ask whether he will agree that we have many friends in the Sudan, and that our declared support of this project would probably strengthen our Sudanese friends in dealing with the tyrannical behaviour of their Egyptian neighbours?

THE MARQUESS OF READING

My Lords, I certainly gladly agree that we have many good friends in the Sudan. As regards support, I did not in any way suggest that support would be withheld. All I said was that the first step must come from the Sudanese Government themselves.

LORD KILLEAR

My Lords, is the noble Marquess aware that many of us who have long experience of the Sudan entirely endorse what the noble Lord, Lord Macpherson of Drumochter, has just said? Will the noble Marquess dissipate any possible fear that the Egyptians might put a spoke in the wheel of any friendly negotiations at present proceeding between this firm and the Sudanese Government?

THE MARQUESS OF READIN

My Lords, I am quite aware that the noble Lord and other noble Lords have experience of that part of the world. As regards the question of Egyptian moves, we shall, of course, keep a not unwatchful eye on the progress of the situation.

LORD KILLEARN

My Lords, I thank the noble Marquess for his "watchful eye."