HC Deb 12 March 1947 vol 434 cc1311-2
12. Mr. Keeling

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will summarise the recommendations of the mission which he sent to West Africa last year to report on the possibilities of increasing the production of vegetable oils and oilseeds; and in what respects these recommendations differed from the previous conclusions of the colonial governments.

9. Mr. Erroll

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Report of the Oilseeds Commission, which recently visited West Africa, will be published.

Mr. Creech Jones

I expect to publish the report in full as soon as the printing can be arranged and the preparation of a summary therefore appears unnecessary. I can, however, say that the recommendations, upon which action is proceeding in the meantime, in general confirm the previous conclusions of the Colonial Governments concerned.

Mr. Keeling

Did the Commission report what had already been reported years ago by the Colonial Government that the only way of getting more of these ingredients for margarine is to send more transport and more consumer goods to West Africa?

Mr. Creech Jones

Yes, all these points are raised in the report.

Mr. Erroll

Is it not a fact that the Commission has reported critically on the railways and other aspects of administration in West Africa, and is it not desirable that the report should be published forthwith?

Mr. Creech Jones

There will be no delay in publishing, and as soon as it is possible to get it out the report will be available to the House.