HC Deb 09 May 1951 vol 487 cc1950-1
41. Mr. Edward Davies

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there are now any delays in the movement of groundnuts owing to lack of transport in Nigeria; and whether the present facilities are adequate for moving the traffic currently.

Mr. Dugdale

The rate of movement of groundnuts on the Nigerian railways has been slowed down by locomotive defects but it is expected that the groundnut crop will all be evacuated before the next buying season begins.

Mr. Davies

Are not the locomotive defects a matter of long standing? Ought not the difficulty have been disposed of before now? What steps have been taken to overcome it?

Brigadier Prior-Palmer

Is it not a fact that there have been locomotive defects for the last five years? What are the Government doing to ensure that this scandalous state of affairs is put right?

Mr. Dugdale

I do not know about a "scandalous state of affairs," but we have been railing all the groundnuts in the season concerned. We expect to be able to rail all the groundnuts before the next season starts.

Mr. Peter Smithers

Does not the Minister know that the reason why these responsible have been able to rail all the groundnuts is the exceptionally small crop?

Mr. H. Hynd

Would my right hon. Friend consult the Minister of Transport, with a view to diverting this traffic from the railways by the issue of an adequate quantity of C licences?