HC Deb 09 November 1949 vol 469 cc1194-6
34. Captain John Crowder

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the capital expenditure so far on the Gambia farm project; and what are the short-and long-term prospects of return on this expenditure.

31 Sir Peter Macdonald

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) how long he expects the salt production scheme in the Turks and Cacos Islands to be under way before it begins to pay its way; and how much will have been expended by that time;

(2) from what source animal feeding-stuffs for the Gambia scheme have been obtained; and what was their quantity and cost;

(3) the expenditure so far on the development of timber in British Guiana; and how many foreign experts and technicians will be associated with it.

Mr. Creech Jones

I regret that I have not this information and would refer the hon. Members to the Colonial Development Corporation, who are carrying out the schemes referred to.

Captain Crowder

Does not the Minister interest himself personally in these very important economic affairs of territories of which his Department is more or less in charge, and could not he get some information for us?

Mr. Creech Jones

This is a responsibility for the Colonial Development Corporation, which operates under its statute. There are monthly meetings between the representatives of the Corporation and my office in which all these matters in regard to the development of the activities of the Corporation are brought into review.

Mr. Oliver Stanley

Was not the right hon. Gentleman told at the last monthly meeting the answer to these Questions?

Mr. Creech Jones

No.

Mr. Stanley

Will he be told at the next meeting?

Mr. Baldwin

In view of the alarming statements which are being made about the Gambia scheme, could we have a progress report to know how it is proceeding, and can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that its accounts are being kept so that it does not get into the same mess as the groundnut scheme?

Mr. Creech Jones

That is not likely to happen. If I may refer the hon. Member to the report recently published by the Colonial Development Corporation, he will discover there certain particulars regarding the scheme and the progress being made.