§ 33. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is intended to continue indefinitely the subsidy at present given to the Lloyd Triestino Company for the carriage of citrus fruit from Cyprus; and whether it is possible for arrangements to be made for a British company to do this work and, if necessary, to combine the carriage of citrus from Cyprus with citrus from Palestine?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)The subsidy in question is not paid for the carriage of citrus fruit but in respect of the inclusion of Cyprus in the itinerary of the fast weekly service (mainly for passengers and mails) maintained by the Lloyd Triestino Company between Trieste, Brindisi and Palestine. There is no formal contract between the Government of Cyprus and the Company, and the arrangement is reviewed every six months. As regards the general question of steamship communication with Cyprus I can add nothing to the reply given to a question yesterday, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. and gallant Friend.