HC Deb 05 May 1937 vol 323 cc1145-6
28. Mr. Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the export quotas of sugar for each of the British sugar-producing Colonies which have been proposed as the basis of an agreement at the International Sugar Conference; and how these quotas compare with the present exports of sugar from those Colonies?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

As the International Sugar Conference is not yet ended I cannot make any statement as to the exact obligations which may be accepted on behalf of the British Colonies.

29. Lieut.-Colonel Sandeman Allen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements were made to represent the sugar producers of Uganda at the International Sugar Conference; whether his attention has been called to the anxiety of these producers lest Uganda sugar production should be curtailed in any way; and whether he is now in a position to state to what extent it will be curtailed and to what extent this will necessitate the destruction of existing crops or the abandonment of acreage now devoted to sugar production in that colony?

30 and 31. Mr. McEntee

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what arrangements were made by him to consult the sugar producers of Uganda in connection with the International Sugar Conference; and whether he can give an assurance that no decision will be reached affecting such producers until they have been fully consulted;

(2) whether he is aware that the estimated sugar production of Uganda, on the basis of cane already planted, will reach about 42,000 tons per annum within two years; what export quota is to be imposed upon Uganda as a result of the Sugar Conference; and whether he is satisfied that any decision resulting from the conference will in no way prevent the necessary expansion of the Uganda sugar industry and the maintenance of low production costs and low prices for the large native population?

33. Mr. Lennox-Boyd

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present sugar production of Uganda and what is the estimated output for the next two years; and whether consideration will be given to the peculiar position of Uganda sugar producers in connection with the present proposals for limitation of production at the International Sugar Conference?

Mr. Ormsby - Gore

As already announced, I set up art Advisory Panel of representatives of Colonial producers in connection with the International Sugar Conference, and Major Dale, who is in charge of the East African Dependencies Trade and Information Office, was appointed on that panel to represent the East African Territories in agreement with the East African Governments. I have been informed by him and by the Government of Uganda about the anxiety of Uganda producers as to their position under an international sugar agreement. It is proposed under such an agreement to accept obligations only on behalf of the Colonial Empire as a whole, and the precise treatment of Uganda in the event of an agreement would have to be settled in consultation with the other Colonial territories concerned. I am not, therefore, able to make any definite announcement at this moment, but I can assure the hon. Members that every consideration will be given to any special circumstances applying to Uganda as to any other territory in the Colonial Empire. As to figures of production, the exact figures of output for the last year are not available, but it was approximately 20,000 tons; and estimates of future production, which are, however, entirely provisional, are 36,000 tons for the crop year 1937–38 and 42,000 tons for 1938–39.