HC Deb 16 February 1949 vol 461 cc1133-5
29. Sir Ralph Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what quantities, respectively, of groundnuts grown in West Africa have been delivered in the United Kingdom, are in transit and remain in store awaiting transport at Kano and other centres.

Mr. Creech Jones

As the reply contains a number of figures and place names I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir R. Glyn

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the rate of railing of these groundnuts to the coast is being kept up to schedule or not?

Mr. Creech Jones

I think that the schedule is being observed, and I hope that the last remnants of the 1947–48 crop will have reached the coast within a few months.

Mr. Sorensen

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the reduced production of groundnuts last season, compared with the previous season, was due to a smaller yield per acre or to a smaller acreage of cultivation?

Mr. Creech Jones

It is not due to a smaller acreage of cultivation. I think that it is due to climatic reasons.

Following is the reply:

The table below gives the figures required in respect of the last two crops in tons of decorticated groundnuts, as at 3rd February, 1949:

— Northern Nigeria River area (Upper Niger/Benus) Gambia (a) Total
1947–48 Crop Delivered in U.K. 203,000 11,000 49,500 263,500
In Transit 36,000 3,700 — 39,700
Up Country 76,000 — — 76,000
Total purchased 315,000 14,700 49,500 379,200
1948–49 Crop Delivered in U.K. 4,000 — — 4,000
In Transit 14,000 1,750 21,500 37,250
Up Country 262,000 9,500 19,000 290,500
Total purchased (b) 280,000 11,250 40,500 331,750

NOTES: (a) Gambia groundnuts are normally shipped undecorticated, but for the purposes of this table the figures have been converted to decorticated equivalent.

(b) Purchases of the 1948–49 crop are not yet complete.

30. Sir R. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is able to give the tonnage figure of groundnuts now stored at Kano and other West African centres of the 1947–48 harvest that have become infested by the larvae of a beetle Trogaderma Sp.; and whether, in view of the damage being done, it is intended to give immediate instructions that absolute priority shall be given to clear the stocks that remain unaffected but vulnerable to attack.

Mr. Creech Jones

Investigation has shown that so far stores containing some 11,500 tons of groundnuts, all at Kano, are so infested. Arrangements are being made to fumigate these nuts before they are railed; the amount actually lost cannot yet be estimated, but is not likely to be large. Priority for railing is being given to stocks surrounding those infested; spraying with insecticides is also being carried out.

Sir R. Glyn

Can the right hon. Gentleman say who is going to bear this severe loss? The stocks at Kano are reported to be deteriorating at the rate of 1 per cent. The loss is now over 11,000 tons, and I understand that there is not a single groundnut fit to sell. Will the native grower have to suffer this loss, or will it be borne by the Ministry of Food and the British taxpayer?

Mr. Creech Jones

I must have notice of that Question as to how the losses will be covered. I would point out that this particular species of insect had not previously been known to attack groundnuts.

Sir Peter Macdonald

Is it not a fact that this beetle was reported in groundnuts some years ago and that the right hon. Gentleman's Department was warned then that if the groundnuts were not moved with greater facility, this kind of destruction might occur. Is it not a fact that these nuts are being kept there as a monument to, Socialist planning?

Mr. Creech Jones

I think the hon. Member is completely confused in regard to this matter. This does not arise from the problem of stacking the groundnuts for railing. It arises from the operations of a new insect, and scientists are working on this problem without delay. It may be that a great quantity of nuts already affected will be restored for normal use.

Mr. Stanley

Is it not a pity to put temptation in the way of these hitherto harmless insects by leaving 70,000 tons of groundnuts lying about for over a year?

Mr. H. D. Hughes

Are not these stocks the property of British trading companies in Kano, and is it not their responsibility to see that the nuts are kept in proper condition? Secondly, is my right hon. Friend aware that the difficulty in transporting these nuts to the coast arises from the neglect of the railways in Nigeria under previous administration?

Mr. W. Fletcher

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is two-and-a-half years since questions were asked by me and others about the stocks accumulating, and does he not think that it is now a question of "Weevil be to him who weevil does."