asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that British goods being unloaded at the present time at Port Said for transshipment are being held up on the Customs shed for periods of up to 18 months; and whether, in view of the shortage of shipping and the need for stimulating the movement of goods in world markets, he will make representations to the Egyptian Government about this matter.

Mr. McNeil:

The fact that certain British firms are meeting with difficulties in this respect has already been brought to my notice. All such cases have been referred to the British Embassy in Cairo and are already being discussed with the Egyptian authorities.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether he made representations to see if the arrangements which prevailed before the war with regard to transshipment might be brought into effect and so considerably shorten this delay?

Mr. McNeil:

I think the difficulty has mainly arisen from the fact that there has been a change of regulations in relation to unsold goods in transit. I would prefer to confine myself to saying that these specific goods and any further specific goods will be dealt with in time.