HC Deb 21 April 1910 vol 16 c2453W
Sir W. BULL

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give statistics as to the number of European inspectors (provisional, in addition to the normal establishment) employed on cotton worm duty in Egypt in 1906 and 1909 respectively?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

In 1909 seventy-seven special inspectors and 167 assistants were employed on cotton worm duty in Egypt, and 110,000 children were requisitioned to pick the contaminated leaves in localities where labour was scarce. There are no figures available for 1906.

Sir W. BULL

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give the number of prosecutions, followed by convictions, for breaches of the Egyptian Cotton Worm Ordinance in 1906 and 1909 respectively?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

In 1909 there were 10,000 prosecutions of cultivators for neglecting to destroy the worm, and 650 omdahs and sheikhs were punished administratively for neglect of duty in this connection. There are no figures available for 1906.