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British Officials (Dismissal)

Volume 495: debated on Wednesday 30 January 1952

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13.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what help is being given by His Majesty's Government towards the repatriation of British officials dismissed by the Egyptian Government; what steps will be taken to provide them with suitable employment on their return home; and what action is contemplated to safeguard their legal rights in Egypt.

His Majesty's Government have every sympathy with these officials, many of whom have given years of devoted service to Egypt and who are the victims of the late Egyptian Government's decisions. His Majesty's Ambassador in Cairo has been in close touch throughout with the Association of British Officials in Egypt and there has been frequent consultation between His Majesty's Embassy, the Foreign Office and other Departments concerned, with a view to assisting these officials.

As regards repatriation, it is understood that the Egyptian authorities concerned have accepted financial responsibility and that they have already met the cost of the passages home of certain officials. We are doing our best to help in finding suitable alternative employment for these officials in neighbouring Middle Eastern countries, in the Colonies and in the United Kingdom, and a number have already been satisfactorily placed.

Plans to fight the cases of these officials for wrongful dismissal in the Egyptian Courts are already well in hand and His Majesty's Government have accepted financial responsibility for the costs of any such action.

In view of the fact that some of these officials are elderly, will the right hon. Gentleman consider with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in certain circumstances, it will be possible to waive the age limit of employment in the Colonies?

Is the Foreign Secretary aware that a number of English teachers in Egypt have been summarily dismissed and left without any financial resources at all, and can he do anything to assist them?

Are we to understand that His Majesty's Government in all these cases accepts, reasonably speaking, responsibility for their future welfare, because many of them are absolutely destitute?

We have done all that we can to place them elsewhere, and some have already been placed. We are willing to give help.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the refund of such financial expenses as may be incurred in looking after these people might well come out of the sterling balance which we hold on behalf of Egypt?