§ 61. Mr. Parkinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that in any agreement on the future use of the Suez Canal to which Her Majesty's Government is a party, they will only assent to terms which guarantee the use of the waterway to ships of all nations.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Cooper) on 31st January.
§ 67. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of the 500 employees of the Suez Canal Company repatriated last September were British subjects; how many of these were canal pilots; if alternative employment has been found for them; and if he will make a statement on their present position.
§ Mr. Ian Harvey98 British subjects employed by the Suez Canal Company were repatriated to the United Kingdom last September. 28 British employees were already on leave in the United Kingdom at the time, making a total of 126. Of these, 61 were Canal pilots, 57 were workmen and foremen and 8 were clerical workers. 4 other British workmen were repatriated to Cyprus and 2 to Malta.
One pilot and 22 workmen have found new employment in the United Kingdom and 19 workmen have emigrated to Australia. The remainder have so far remained on the payroll of the Suez Canal Company, so that the question of finding them new employment has not yet arisen, but I understand that the Company is now finding it necessary to discharge them. Every effort will be made to assist them to find employment.
§ 77. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions are being issued to British ships as to the payment of canal dues when the Suez Canal is reopened.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydI am not yet ready to make a statement upon this matter.