§ 15. Mr. Cooperasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans have been developed for rapidly increasing groundnut production in West Africa.
Mr. Creech JonesFollowing the recommendations of the West African Oilseeds Mission, plans for pilot schemes for the production of various crops, including groundnuts, are being considered by the Governments of the Gold Coast and Nigeria, and by the Colonial Development Corporation.
§ Mr. CooperCan my right hon. Friend make any statement in regard to the proposal, which seems to be current in West Africa, to the effect that greater contributions could be made to groundnut production if the same kind of energy, effort and costs are put into West Africa as are being put into the East African groundnut scheme?
Mr. Creech JonesThat is not the situation. The matter has been very carefully considered by the necessary services required by the Commission which visited West Africa, and also the facilities for certain pilot schemes had also to be studied. The matter has gone before the two Governments concerned and I hope some progress can be made very shortly.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydHave the groundnuts of two years ago, which accumulated in West Africa, now been shifted?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydEntirely?
§ Mr. SorensenIs my right hon. Friend aware that in fact there are vast quantities of groundnuts still stacked around Kano?
Mr. Creech JonesI was in West Africa only a few weeks ago and saw vast quantities waiting, but that is the new crop.
§ 23. Mr. Cooperasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans have been prepared for making the Lagos-Kano sector of the Nigerian railway a 354 double track to augment the present single track now found inadequate for the amount of groundnuts accumulating in Kano.
Mr. Creech JonesNo plans have so far been made to this end. Apart from a short section just north of Lagos which may need special attention, the existing track will, so far as can be foreseen, carry all the traffic required for the evacuation of groundnuts.
§ Mr. CooperIs not one of the chief causes of the hold-up in groundnuts production in West Africa the narrow track between Lagos and Kano? Could not my right hon. Friend give immediate priority consideration to this problem?
Mr. Creech JonesThe essential difficulty is the limitation in regard to wagons and locomotives. It is not the size of the track.
Mr. Wilson HarrisDoes the answer of the right hon. Gentleman mean that there is at present a serious accumulation of groundnuts awaiting movement?
§ Mr. StanleyDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that the whole of last year's crop has been moved?
Mr. Creech JonesI should require notice of that question—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I say that I must have notice of that question but I can say that part of that crop has been removed.