HC Deb 19 December 1956 vol 562 cc152-3W
38. Mr. P. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the position of British civilians in Egypt.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Some 2,500 British nationals have left Egypt, voluntarily or under expulsion orders, since the beginning of November. The remainder, now estimated to be between ten and eleven thousand, are subjected to varying degrees of restraint, Their property has been sequestrated, and it has been made illegal for Egyptians to have any financial dealings with them.

I have already referred, in my answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross), to the action which Her Majesty's Government have taken in the United Nations. We shall continue to do all we can to alleviate the position of our nationals in Egypt. On one aspect of the matter I think I can give some comfort to the House. Among the totals I have mentioned are between 400 and 500 British civilians who are interned. I hope very shortly to be able to give the House good news about them.