§ Mr. CROOKEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the present amount of the Government's holding in the Sudan Plantations Syndicate and the amount held by that syndicate in the Kassala Cotton Company; and, in view of the fact that the value of shares in the Kassala Cotton Company is determined by its title to the waters of the Gash River, which title is contested by certain Italian interests in Eritrea, will he state what steps were taken by His Majesty's Government to safeguard the investment of public funds in the holding and/or subsidiary company?
Mr. GRAHAMThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The Government has never had any holding in the Sudan Plantations Syndicate or the Kassala Cotton Company. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer him to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the 7th May to the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Hudson).