HC Deb 19 February 1959 vol 600 c93W
Captain Kerby

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) how far his assurance of 16th May, 1957, in regard to the security for British claims against the Egyptian Government still represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government; what is the total of the claims registered by British owners of expropriated, Egyptianised or nationalised property; and whether, in view of the protracted, secret and abortive attempts to reach an equitable financial settlement with the Government of Egypt, he will now compensate the British victims in full from Egyptian assets in the custody of Her Majesty's Government;

(2) how far former British residents in Egypt, who own sequestrated property but who do not wish to return to Egypt under the changed conditions, will be compensated for their losses; by whom, or by what body, such losses will be assessed; and to what extent such compensation will be payable in freely transferable sterling;

(3) how far the Egyptian sequestrators of British property have indicated their unwillingness to return land and buildings to their owners; and what was the value of such land and buildings at the time of sequestration.

Mr. R. Allan

These matters are involved in the Anglo-Egyptian Financial Agreement which is not yet concluded. Until the Agreement is signed I cannot discuss them. With regard to the first part of the first Question, the policy of Her Majesty's Government is unchanged and was restated on 20th November by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury.