HC Deb 03 March 1952 vol 497 cc2-3W
51 and 52. Sir J. Mellor

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether compensation has now been offered by the Egyptian Government for the loss of British lives and property during the riots in Cairo; and upon what basis of assessment;

(2) to give an estimate of the damage to British property during the riots in Cairo.

Mr. Nutting

The damage to British property is provisionally estimated as between three and five million pounds sterling.

No offer of compensation has yet been made. But I understand that the late Egyptian Government was examining the question in the light of investigations into responsibility for the Cairo riots now being carried out by its judicial authorities. That Government had already decided to offer immediate financial assistance to the proprietors of damaged businesses and the sum of five million Egyptian pounds has been allocated for this purpose.