§ 34. Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in January, his Department announced that copper output in Rhodesia would be cut by 25 per cent. and followed this by: a more recent statement to the contrary.
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Colonel Oliver Stanley)At the beginning of this year the copper position as 735 far as the United Kingdom is concerned had eased sufficiently for His Majesty's Government to plan reducing its purchases of copper from Northern Rhodesia and other sources of supply. It has since become evident that production in the United States will be adversely affected by manpower shortages, and, after a review of the whole situation by the Combined Raw Materials Board, it has been decided that production from all sources should be maintained as far as practicable. In conformity with this decision production in Northern Rhodesia will be maintained on the basis described in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for the English Universities (Mr. E. Harvey) on 10th May.
§ Mr. EdwardsDoes that not mean that there has been a serious miscalculation as to the Allied requirements of this commodity?
§ Colonel StanleyThe hon. Member will realise that the purchaser in this case was the Minister of Supply, and any detailed questions ought to be put to him. I take it that a new situation arose after the first decision was taken.
§ Earl WintertonIn view of the fact that this territory is so largely dependent on copper output—in the case of the European population to the extent of 90 per cent.—would it not be possible, if there is a variation, to give long-term notice of any change?
§ Colonel StanleyVery considerable notice was given in this case.