HC Deb 12 January 1971 vol 809 cc28-30W
Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made over the negotiations on compensation for nationalised British property in Egypt; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Godber

Discussions were held with a United Arab Republic Government delegation in London from 8th to 16th December, 1970, but although some progress was made the delegation were unable to offer an amount of compensation which we could accept. Both sides are now considering the matter further.

Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give an undertaking that no Government loan will be made to the United Arab Republic Government until British-owned property which has been sequestrated or re-sequestrated is returned or adequate compensation is paid, and the terms of the Anglo/United Arab Republic financial agreements of 1959 and 1967 are implemented.

Mr. Godber

The extent to which the United Arab Republic Government are meeting their obligations under the Financial agreements of 1959 and 1967 would be an important factor in our minds when considering any Government loan to them.

Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to secure the de-sequestration of British property in Egypt subsequent to the presidential order on the liquidation of the sequestration, or government take-over, of the private property of Egyptian nationals.

Mr. Godber

With the exception of a small number of special cases, all British property sequestrated in the United Arab Republic is eligible for release under the terms of the Financial Agreement of 1959 and subsequent Exchanges of Notes.

The special cases were discussed with the United Arab Republic delegation at the talks in December on nationalised property when the United Kingdom delegation made it clear that Her Majesty's Government would expect a satisfactory settlement of these cases to form part of any agreement on outstanding issues between the two countries.

Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of those persons whose names are given in the Annexes of the Exchange of Notes, Command Paper No. 3976 of December, 1967, have now had their property returned and/or received compensation; how many cases have not yet been settled; and how many have not yet been allowed to export their property and/or compensation from Egypt under the terms of the Exchange of Notes or the 1959 financial agreement.

Mr. Godber

As far as is known, all the property sequestrated between November, 1956 and 28th February, 1959 of the persons named in the Annexes to the Exchange of Notes of December, 1967 has, with one exception, been released and, where appropriate, a transfer effected.

The exception is that of Mrs. Josa Finney whose property has been released from sequestration but who has had difficulties over the export of her personal effects. This case is being currently pursued with the Government of the United Arab Republic and it is hoped that a satisfactory outcome will be achieved. Her Majesty's Government are, of course, ready to give assistance, on notification of the facts, to any other owner of such property who may still be meeting with difficulties.