§ 42. Mr. Skeffingtonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the serious loss of productive land by soil erosion in British Africa, he will set up a committee to ascertain the exact facts and to report on long term measures which must be taken.
Mr. Creech JonesNo, Sir. We are far past the committee stage. The facts are well known and the measures which should be taken are well known. The difficulty lies in impressing the facts on the local populations and persuading them to take the measures. The local Governments are doing their best, but it will inevitably be a slow process. A conference will be held in Africa this year on land utilisation when soil erosion will again be one of the factors considered.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonWhile one part of the remedy lies in improved methods by the African cultivator, a good deal of the remedy must be found through Government action in planning and so on, and 353 is my right hon. Friend satisfied that adequate steps are being taken in that direction?