HC Deb 09 February 1967 vol 740 cc359-60W
Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the estimated total value of the property of British subjects resequestrated under Egyptian Proclamation 138 of October, 1961, together with the number of British subjects involved; how much of the property has been disposed of by the Government of the United Arab Republic; and what compensation has been paid.

Mr. William Rodgers

Altogether 130 British nationals have notified the Foreign Office that their property was resequestrated under Egyptian Proclamation 138 of October, 1961. From owners' own valuations this property totals approximately £E 11 million. We have no knowledge of how much, if any, of the property has been disposed of by the Government of the United Arab Republic while under Proclamation 138 sequestration. No compensation has yet been paid by the Government of the United Arab Republic in respect of British property resequestrated by Proclamation 138, nor has any of the property been restored to the owners.

Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made on implementing the Foreign Compensation (Egypt) (Final Distribution) Order, 1963 and the total payments made to date together with the estimated total of claims still outstanding in respect of Egyptianised property and sequestrated property, respectively.

Mr. William Rodgers

Up to 31st January, 1967, the totals of claims dealt with by the Foreign Compensation Commission under the Foreign Compensation (Egypt) (Determination and Registration of Claims) Order, 1962, were as follows:

Claims awarded 7,533
Claims dismissed 1,638
Claims registered under Article 8 of the Order 2,321
Claims dismissed under Article 8 of the Order 972
12,464

Payments made in accordance with the percentage rates provided in the Schedule to the 1963 Order in Council, after deductions in repayment of ex-gratia loans. for Egyptianised property totalled £19,968,792 in respect of awards totalling £51,812,294 and for sequestrated property totalled £7,393,611 in respect of awards totalling £12,060,129. In addition a total of £1,154,545 was paid out in respect of registrations made under Article 8 of the Order totalling £1,758,069.

So far as can at present be ascertained the approximate number of outstanding claims is in the region of 2,080 of which approximately 40 are in respect of Egyptianised property and the remainder cover loss through sequestration and claims suitable for registration under Article 8 of Part IV of the Egypt Order, 1962.—[Vol. 728, c. 15.]

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