§ 25. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the need of setting up substantial processing facilities for cocoa in West Africa; whether any further steps in that direction are being taken; and whether he intends to fix a minimum price to be paid for Nigerian and Gold Coast cocoa?
§ Colonel StanleyThe answer to the first two parts of the Question is in the negative. The demand for processed cocoa products is not sufficient to justify the diversion of material and manufacturing capacity for the provision of the necessary plant. The answer to the third part of the Question is that prices have already been fixed.
§ Mr. SorensenIn view of the surplus of cocoa that exists this season has the right hon. and gallant Gentleman inquired into other means of utilising it, including the production of plastics?
§ Colonel StanleyI am anxious to find other means, and I will certainly inquire into that suggestion.
§ 26. Mr. Rileyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of the West African cocoa crop is now being destroyed; the cost of the cocoa destroyed; the financial loss to the Government; and what amount of cocoa is now being released in West Africa for the manufacture of cocoa-butter and other purposes?
§ Colonel StanleyUp to 30th September, 1942, some 23,500 tons of the 1941–42 West African cocoa crops had been destroyed, or about 6 per cent. of the whole. The cost to the West African Produce Control Board was about £285,000. A few thousand tons of cocoa have so far been utilised for the manufacture of cocoa-butter and other purposes in West Africa.
§ Mr. SorensenCannot the process of converting cocoa into cocoa-butter be further extended and thus use a high proportion of the surplus?
§ Colonel StanleyIt is the difficulty I referred to in my previous answer, that of machinery.