British Subjects and Property

HC Deb 21 November 1956 vol 560 cc79-80W

60. Mr. J. Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps it is proposed to take, prior to the withdrawal of British forces from Egypt, to ensure the protection of British nationals and property, particularly in the Suez Canal area.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

British interests in Egypt have been placed under the protection of the Swiss authorities, who are doing everything possible to ensure the welfare of British subjects, and the safety of their property, in areas under Egyptian control. This protection will be extended to that part of the Suez Canal area now occupied by British and French forces when those forces leave.

61. Mr. J. Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British nationals are now known to have been imprisoned, or interned, in Egypt since the present situation developed; and what action is being taken to protect their interests and secure their release.

67. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to state the number of British subjects interned in Egypt at the present time.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

460 British employees of the Suez Base contractors, and some 220 other British subjects, have been interned by the Egyptians; about fifty other British residents were arrested early in November, but it is not known whether they are still under restraint. Swiss representatives in Egypt have visited the interned men. Details of their unsatisfactory treatment were given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on 20th November. The Swiss authorities are of course making representations to bring about an improvement.

64. Mr. J. Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British nationals are still unaccounted for in Egypt; and what action is being taken to trace their whereabouts.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

There are some 13,000 British subjects in Egypt. It is not possible for the Swiss representative there to check on the whereabouts and welfare of all of them, but he is making inquiries into the cases of any who, like the 460 Suez Base employees, are known to be interned or believed to be under some form of restraint.