HC Deb 09 May 1934 vol 289 c1072
11. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information as to the failure of crops in Kenya and Tanganyika and the famine conditions arising therefrom; and what steps are being taken to meet the situation?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

As regards Kenya, a severe drought prevailed during the early part of this year, but the latest reports which I have received show that the drought has now generally broken. The Government have provided £6,500 since January for famine relief measures in the Coast Province and in Turkana, but this has in part been necessitated by locust depredations. The Tanganyika crop reports for March, 1934, show that, except in the Lake Province, the rainfall has been generally satisfactory. Owing, however, to the invasions of red locusts in the Central, Tanga and Eastern Provinces, it has been necessary to spend £5,000 this year on famine relief, in addition to £5,000 on anti-locust measures.