HC Deb 25 November 1946 vol 430 cc1262-6
Mr. Strachey

The House will recall that last June the Secretary of State for the Colonies sent out a mission to investigate the possibilities of the large-scale production of groundnuts—a main source of our margarine—in British administered African territories. The mission has recommended the large-scale production of groundnuts by fully mechanised means in certain selected areas of Tanganyika, Northern Rhodesia and Kenya as technically and economically feasible. The mission considers that early and substantial supplies of oils and fats might be secured if—but only if—the project is undertaken with all the sense of urgency that the supply position demands. This is naturally my special interest in the matter. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies has a strong interest in the economic and social benefits which will accrue to the territories concerned. The acceptance of the mission's proposals in their entirety would, however, involve His Majesty's Government in a substantial financial commitment which, because of its size and its nature, cannot be lightly assumed. The wider aspects of the full scheme, including problems which could not be fully explored by the mission in the time at their disposal, are still being examined in consultation with the Governments of the territories involved. The need for additional supplies of oils and tats in this country is, however, so pressing that this further investigation, necessary as it is, cannot be allowed to delay the start of the project. For work must start early next year if a crop is to be reaped in the 1947–48 season. His Majesty's Government have therefore decided to launch the first year's operations with a limited commitment. Meanwhile, the ultimate scope of the project can be, and is being, further investigated while the initial work-is being pressed forward.

My Department has been charged with the responsibility for executing this interim decision and in due course I shall approach the House for a supplementary vote to cover the expenditure involved. I have set up a special section within my Department, which is exclusively engaged, in cooperation with the other Departments concerned, in working on the many practical problems which arise. It is the Government's, intention that the full undertaking, should it be initiated, shall be owned and financed entirely by His Majesty's Government, probably through a Government-owned corporation. But in order to get the work in Africa going without delay I have invited the United Africa Company to act as managing agents for the present limited scheme pending a decision on the long term project. This will be conducted, if it is approved, by a suitable public agency. The United Africa Company have already contributed much from their great experience and knowledge of tropical African agriculture, to the conception and elaboration of the scheme and the warm thanks of His Majesty's Government are due to them. I am satisfied that they will prove most efficient managing agents for the inception of the scheme. In fact their employment in this capacity in addition to all the work which is being done by all the Governments concerned, is, I am satisfied, the only way in which we can get going in time to harvest an initial crop in the spring of 1948, and on doing this the possibility of getting for the British people a proper supply of fats may well depend. However, as I found that the United Africa Company were the first to recognise, it would be wholly undesirable to leave a vast project of this type—which may in the end profoundly affect the welfare and development of the peoples of Central Africa—in the hands of a private organisation. If the Government decide to proceed with the full scheme, the conduct of the undertaking will as soon as practicable be transferred to a suitable public agency. I shall, of course, inform the House as soon as that decision has been taken. But as operations on the more limited interim scheme axe just about to begin I felt it was right to make this statement in the House.

Mr. Oliver Stanley

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman first, whether it is intended to publish the proposals of this mission, and if so, whether they will be available to us before we discuss the Supplementary Estimate; secondly, whether the United Africa Company—and we on this side have listened with great appreciation to the tributes which he paid to them—have had any experience of work in East and Central Africa; thirdly, can he tell the House whether, when he talks about the full undertaking being owned by His Majesty's Government he means that they will own the land and thus dispossess the tribes now in possession of it?

Mr. Strachey

On the first part of the question as to publication of information, I think the most convenient way would be to publish a White Paper on the subject before the Supplementary Estimate is introduced. On the subject of the United Africa Company, I would not like to say without notice exactly what is their experience, or the geographical area covered by it, but undoubtedly it is a very long and rich one of African development. But groundnuts have not been produced by these methods or in this area at all, so their experience could not be of that kind, for nobody has that experience. On the third question, the land is under bush at the moment, and one of the great advantages of the scheme, as I understand it, is that the bush will be cleared by mechanical means, thus clearing the area of tsetse fly and making it habitable, which it is not at the moment.

Mr. Rankin

In view of the wide experience which the Co-operative movement has had in the development of Africa's trade and production, especially in West Africa, does the Minister consider balancing the United Africa Company's contribution by putting on a member of the Co-operative movement?

Mr. Strachey

We could not put on a member of the Co-operative movement because no corporation has yet been formed. The United Africa Company is being employed as a great contractor is employed on, say, an airfield, only on a much greater scale, of course, in this case, for the initiation of this project. If and when the full project is entered upon, I think it must be by a publicly owned corporation, on which nobody will be represented but the Board of which will be drawn from men experienced in affairs.

Mr. York

As I understand that this will largely depend on large - scale mechanisation, can the Minister say where the machinery for this mechanisation is to come from, what type it will be, and whether it will be in competition with our own inadequate resources in this country?

Mr. Strachey

It will be found possible, we hope and believe, to get the scheme started, at any rate, without drawing any mechanised resources away from British agriculture.

Sir Frank Sanderson

In view of the important and, I would suggest, eminently satisfactory statement made by the Minister, and in view of the fact that the Government will finance this development, can the Minister give some assurance that when the nuts become available, this country will get some form of preference?

Mr. Strachey

If the British Government corporation are purchasing the crops, the crops will be the property of His Majesty's Government of course, but if at that time the international allocation of fats is in operation it will ensure that we get our full allocation. It has not always been so in the past.

Mr. McEntee

Will my right hon. Friend say whether the Uganda territory is one of the areas where this scheme is to be operated? If not, will the Minister consider operating the groundnuts side of the scheme particularly in Uganda?

Mr. Strachey

The present sites selected are Tanganyika, Northern Rhodesia, and Kenya, but, as the full scope of the scheme has not yet been adopted, a still wider scheme is possible.

Mr. William Shepherd

Can the Minister say what are the estimated production costs compared with present resources, and whether a subsidy from the Government will be necessitated?

Mr. Strachey

No, Sir, we believe groundnuts produced in these areas by this method will be one of the cheapest sources of raw material in the world.

Dr. Barnett Stross

Can my right hon. Friend give any information to the House as to the estimated total amount of oil available during 1947 from these areas, and secondly, how much will be available yearly?

Mr. Strachey

The first crop we hope to reap will be in the winter of 1947–48 and no oil will be available until 1948. On the further point, I think my hon. Friend had better await the White Paper.

Mr. Medlicott

Does not the Minister's statement amount to an admission that where speed and initiative are required, a private company has to be introduced?

Mr. Turton

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there will be a public local inquiry before any tribe is dispossessed? [Laughter.]

Mr. Strachey

There is a very serious point behind that question. We are moving in closest consultation with the Governments of the territories involved. I am assured that the interests of the natives will be very greatly benefited by this scheme.

Mr. Scollan

Will my right hon. Friend be good enough to tell us whether the White Paper will give details of the initial outlay of the new scheme, and the terms under which the United Africa Company are to be remunerated?

Mr. Strachey

I must not anticipate the White Paper, but I will consider that.

Sir John Mellor

Are the Government satisfied that there is a sufficient labour force available in these territories, without depriving existing industries of necessary labour?

Mr. Strachey

It is one of the main problems to be overcome, but the Colonial Governments have reported favourably on the possibility of overcoming it.

Mr. Stephen

Will the Minister give an assurance that there will be no forced native labour in connection with the scheme?

Mr. Strachey

Certainly.

Lieut.-Commander Joynson-Hicks

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the native tribes have been consulted, and whether they agree?

Mr. Strachey

That would be a more appropriate Question to put to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member would like to put it down. But let me repeat that these areas today are covered by bush and scrub, and are infested by tsetse fly. They are practically uninhabited.

Mr. Drayson

Will the accounts of the interim scheme, and ultimately of the public agency, be made public?

Mr. Strachey

Yes, in the White Paper when it is produced.