§ 55. Mr. G. Straussasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give an indication of the funds accumulated from Government marketing of cotton, coffee, cocoa and similar products grown in the African Colonies during the war; and whether he can give an assurance that these surpluses will be devoted to the establishment of enterprises which will benefit the colonies as a whole.
§ Colonel StanleyIn the case of most of the crops grown in African Colonies and bought on Government account, the whole purchase price is paid to the producer, and no profit is made by the Governments of the Colonies concerned. Certain crops, however, have been purchased by Government organisations and subsequently resold at a profit, and I am circulating with the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the profits earned in this manner up to the latest dates available. In all the latter cases the profits accruing are being retained to be used in due course for the benefit either of the producers concerned, or of the areas in which production takes place.
§ Mr. StraussIs it not very important that the profits obtained, which come from the Colonies as a whole, should be used for the benefit of the Colonies and the people living there and not for producers?
§ Colonel StanleyThey will not be used for individual producers but where there are cases where profits are earned in one 816 particular district or region, inside the Colony, they will go back to the district or region.
§ Mr. StraussFor the benefit of the people as a whole living there?
§ Colonel StanleyThat is so.
§ Following are the figures:
| Profits from Marketing: | |
| £ | |
| Uganda cotton crop for crop years 1942–1943 and 1943–1944 | 2,400,000 |
| Uganda hard coffee crop (to May, 1944) | 119,400 |
| Nyasaland cotton crop (1943) | 15,000 |
| Cocoa, Gold Coast to end of 1942–43 season | 2,240,188 |
| Cocoa, Nigeria to end of 1942–43 season | 1,169,906 |
| Ginger, Sierra Leone (1942 crop) | 14,000 |