§ 47. Mr. Walter Fletcherasked the Prime Minister if he will now appoint a Royal Commission to study the groundnut scheme in East Africa with a view to its discontinuance or its reduction.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I rely on my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food, in consultation with the Overseas Food Corporation, to make recommendations about the scale of operations of the groundnut scheme in East Africa.
§ Mr. FletcherIn view of the great public interest and disquiet about facts already revealed about the groundnut scheme, does not the Prime Minister think that the chance of a reduced scheme succeeding, which is the desire of everybody, would be very greatly enhanced if a body with the authority of a Royal Commission were to be appointed instead of a Departmental commission, which cannot have the same force in the public eye?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, I do not think so. I think the inquiries already going forward, under the chairmanship of Sir Charles Lockhart, will prove effective and will meet the kind of needs the public require.
§ Mr. GammansIn view of the fact that some millions of the taxpayers' money which has been invested in this scheme will have to be written off in any case, does not the Prime Minister feel that an impartial inquiry should take place about what is to happen in the future?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member will realise that there have been very full reports on this from the Public Accounts Committee.
§ Captain CrookshankIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that working parties set up under the chairmanship of a Member of the Board cannot be considered as impartial as a Royal Commission would be? Why is it that he will not concede this demand which we have pressed upon him repeatedly when he has already conceded the other two demands —the removal of the late Minister and of Sir Leslie Plummer?
§ Mr. FletcherIn view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter, at the first opportunity, on the Adjournment.