§ Lieut.-Colonel MOORE-BRABAZONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that the tolls charged by the Suez Canal Company are causing the closing down or restriction of output of British and other industries in Egyptian territory south of the Suez Canal; and whether, in view of the dividend paid by this company, His Majesty's Government will now agree to use the power conferred on it by its holding and by its representatives on the board of the canal company to bring about such a reduction of canal dues as will assist the world recovery of industry, and, in particular, assist all industries located in Egyptian territory south of the canal.
§ Major ELLIOTHis Majesty's Government are fully alive to the considerations referred to in the first part of the question, and I am glad to be able to state that the company has felt able to reduce the transit dues temporarily by about 10 per cent. as from 15th November of this year.