§ 79. Mr. H. Fraserasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the size and dates of recently granted loans to, and sterling balances of, Egypt, Israel and Iraq.
§ Mr. GaitskellI cannot disclose details of our sterling liabilities to individual countries.
On 2nd December, 1949, agreement was reached in principle that facilities for the borrowing of £3 million should be made available to the Iraq Government. They have not yet availed themselves of these facilities. In addition, the recent settlement with the Government of Israel in respect of certain claims by His Majesty's Government, includes a provision that a sum of nearly £3 million shall be paid over a period of 15 years, with interest at 1 per cent. per annum.