§ 13. Mr. DAVID GRENFELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, arising out of the floods in British Guiana in January last, he can state the 915 estimated damage to permanent cultivation of fruit trees, mango, lime and orange; to semi-permanent crops such as plantains, eddoes, potatoes, yams and tannias; to drainage of the farm lands below sea level, and to farmers' houses and rice factories; the amount of Government provision available to repair this damage; whether anything has yet been done to assist the farmers with loans to renew their drainage and replant their farms; and, if so, in what areas?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)The points raised by the hon. Member are fully dealt with in the report of the Floods Investigation Committee which was appointed by the Governor in January last, and I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House. The Governor's recommendations on this report have now been received and are receiving my consideration.
§ Mr. GRENFELLHas any organisation been set us since the report was published?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERImmediate relief was given on the spot. If the hon Member reads the report, he will see that a very representative Committee was appointed to consider not only the immediate needs, but questions as regards policy throughout the whole area, in order to avoid as far as possible any recurrence of the floods.
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman say which of these various crops suffered the most?