HC Deb 08 October 1941 vol 374 cc976-7
35. Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in Jamaica for the preparation of dried bananas and their marketing and consumption in large quantities in this country; what difficulties stand in the way; and whether energetic steps will be taken to develop this product for consumption in this country?

Mr. George Hall

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Food has decided that the nutritive value of dried bananas is not sufficient to justify the allocation of shipping space for their import to this country, so that there is no object in the organisation of their production in Jamaica. I am glad, however, to be able to assure my hon. Friend that the whole of the Jamaica banana crop for which export markets cannot be found is being utilised locally in one form or another.