HC Deb 01 June 1949 vol 465 cc2101-2
21. Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the constitution of the Marketing Board which controls the West African cocoa industry in Northern Nigeria; how many official and unofficial members are appointed by His Majesty's Government; how many are local residents; how they are appointed; and what is a quorum for a meeting.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Creech Jones)

I have been asked to reply. Cocoa is not grown in Northern Nigeria but in the South and West. The Nigeria Cocoa Marketing Board was established under Nigerian legislation and the Governor appoints the members. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the legislation and of the Board's first annual report which contain the detailed information for which he asks.

Mr. Freeman

Could my right hon. Friend say whether all the representatives are nominated by the Governor and, if so, will he consider arranging for direct representation by local interests?

Mr. Creech Jones

They are nominated by the Governor and three of them are Nigerians.

Mr. H. D. Hughes

On a point of Order. May I ask what is now the international status of Northern Nigeria, as this Question appears on the Order Paper to be answered by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs?

Mr. Platts-Mills

As it is a comparable case with the position of Western Germany, could Questions on Western Germany now be addressed to the Colonial Secretary?

Mr. Speaker

The right hon. Gentleman said he had been asked to reply and I presume that is good enough.

Mr. Stanley

Further to that point of Order. Although it is quite proper that the Colonial Secretary should have replied, in fact the Question has been passed by the Table to be asked of the Foreign Secretary.

Mr. Speaker

I have no power to say who shall answer and who shall not. That is quite beyond the powers of the Table. It is not a matter for me; it is entirely a matter for the Government Front Bench.

Mr. Sorensen

Do we understand that Questions regarding the cocoa industry or the Cocoa Marketing Board must in future be put to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs?

Mr. Speaker

One should put the Question down and find out, I should think.

Mr. H. D. Hughes

Further to that point of Order. Do we understand that on a day when the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is down for the first Questions and when the Secretary of State for the Colonies is last for Questions, it will be in Order to put Colonial Questions on the Order Paper to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in order that they may be reached?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member should ask one Minister one Question at a time, surely.