HC Deb 01 December 1948 vol 458 cc1993-4
30. Mr. Hurd

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many tons of groundnuts from the 1946, 1947 and 1948 harvests, respectively, are awaiting shipment from the West African Colonies.

Mr. Creech Jones

In Nigeria there are 1,500 tons of groundnuts of the 1946–47 crop and 157,000 tons of the 1947–48 crop; of these some 17,000 tons are at port. There are no stocks of old crop groundnuts in the Gambia.

Mr. Hurd

Can the Minister say why there has been this long delay in shipping the 1947 crop when we need these groundnuts so urgently here?

Mr. Creech Jones

There appear to have been some transit difficulties in regard to this very small quantity of nuts in the 1946–47 period.

Mr. W. Fletcher

Has there been any deterioration in quality due to that?

Mr. Creech Jones

The evidence is all against that. The groundnuts are very well preserved.

Mr. H. D. Hughes

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the locomotives that have recently gone out to Nigeria are now in active operation?

Mr. Creech Jones

Yes, Sir They are going out steadily, and they are being used.