HL Deb 14 June 1967 vol 283 cc1019-20WA
LORD ILFORD

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action was taken to obtain compensation for British subjects expelled from Egypt by the Egyptian Government in 1956 and 1957 in respect of the assets in Egypt or other loss sustained by such British subjects and what progress has been made in paying such compensation.

LORD CHALFONT

In accordance with the Agreement Concerning Financial and Commercial Relations and British Property in Egypt of 28th February, 1959, the Government of the United Arab Republic paid Her Majesty's Government £27½ million as compensation in full and final settlement of all claims of United Kingdom nationals in respect of British property retained by the Government of the United Arab Republic ("Egyptianised property") or injured or damaged as a result of measures of sequestration and other restrictive measures (" sequestrated property ") applied to British property between 30th October, 1956, and 28th February, 1959, in accordance with Proclamation No. 5 of 1 November, 1956.

The compensation received under the Agreement is being distributed by the Foreign Compensation Commission in accordance with the Foreign Compensation (Egypt) (Determination and Registration of Claims) Order, 1962, and the Foreign Compensation (Egypt) (Final Distribution) Order, 1963, which provides for the final scale of compensation payments to successful claimants.

Up to the 31st May, 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 7,715
Claims dismissed 1,789
Claims registered under Article 8 of the Order 2,392
Claims dismissed under Article 8 of the Order 1,041
12,937

Payments made in accordance with the percentage rates provided in the Schedule to the Foreign Compensation (Egypt) (Final Distribution) Order, 1963, after deductions in repayment of ex-gratia loans, for Egyptianised property totalled £19,975,948 in respect of awards totalling £51,835,535 and for sequestrated property totalled £7,593,389 in respect of awards totalling £12,376,756. In addition a total of £1,185,999 was paid out in respect of registrations made under Article 8 of the Order totalling £1,813,810.

House adjourned at nineteen minutes before eight o'clock.