§ LORD KILLEARNMy 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 they have receiving information of any recent announcement in Cairo that the Egyptian Government have confiscated all land in Egyptian territory owned by British and French citizens.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)My Lords, the Swiss authorities who are protecting British interests in Egypt have reported no such measures. If the noble Lord has any information on this subject I will gladly have it investigated.
§ LORD KILLEARNMy Lords, whilst thanking the noble Earl for his Answer, may I say that only this morning I received a letter which confirmed the news which had come by cable about the confiscation of land and property. Would it help the noble Earl if I handed him the letter, the source of my information?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, if the noble Lord will hand me the letter, I will gladly have it investigated straight away.
§ LORD KILLEARNMy Lords, as a supplementary question, may I ask the noble Earl whether at this stage, and without embarrassment, he can say if it is the intention of the Government to take Parliament into their confidence in regard to the Rome negotiations?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, no doubt when the Rome negotiations 884 have reached a stage at which a statement can be made, the Government will make a statement.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, as I have put down a comprehensive Question for next week about these negotiations can the noble Earl tell me when I may expect a reply?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, if I remember rightly, the noble Viscount's Question is one for Oral Answer, and as things are at present the Answer will be given on the date for which the Question has been put down. However, in the event of the Answer being a long one, I will ask the noble Viscount if he will be willing to turn his Question into one for Written Answer, and to have Questions put subsequently, if there is anything in the Written Answer to which the noble Viscount takes exception or on which he wishes for more information.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, I will gladly fall in with the noble Earl's suggestion.