Mr. GOOCHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the original purchase price of the Suez Canal shares owned by the British Government; what sum has been received in dividends for each of the last five years; and what is the total sum which has been received in dividends since the time of the original purchase?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEsupplied the following figures:—
£ s. d The purchase money of the Suez Canal shares was 3,976,582 2 6 The amount received for interest and dividends during the last five years, to 1st January, inclusive, was— 1905–6 1,053,323 2 3 1906–7 1,054,027 17 1 1907–8 1,127,821 7 4 1908–9 1,058,374 0 2 1909–10 1,056,207 5 5 The total amount received for interest and dividends from 1st January, 1895, to 1st January, 1910, both inclusive, was 13,698,082 6 3 Up to 1st July, 1894, interest on the purchase money was paid by the Khedive of Egypt. The total amount so paid from the date of purchase, was 3,635,188 9 1