§ 34. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the loss of the Nigeria Groundnut Marketing Board on the 1951–52 crop on account of quality claims by the United Kingdom buyers; what was the loss in weight; and what was the loss as a result of insect attacks caused by long storage in Nigeria.
§ Mr. LytteltonOut of the total sales of approximately £29 million quality claims amounting to £425,000 have been allowed to date. Not all by any means were due to long storage. Loss in weight is estimated to be less than half of 1 per cent. of the total crop. For the third part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11th March.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs not the Minister aware that competent and experienced business men in Kano and Nigeria estimate this loss as something between £750,000 and £850,000? Does he not agree that the only solution to this urgent problem is to second personnel from British Railways to, shall we say, pep up or invigorate the transport system of Nigeria?
§ Mr. LytteltonRegarding the estimates I can only give the most expert judgment, which is the figure I have given. With 1160 regard to the railway system, of course we inherited an extremely bad situation. Every measure has been taken to put it right and great improvements have been made, but there is much more to be done.
§ Mr. JohnsonWill not the Minister agree that in the present disturbed political state in Nigeria it is very difficult to get people to go out on regular engagements? Would not it be better, as I said a moment ago, to second experienced staff and personnel to help the railways in their difficult ask?
§ Mr. LytteltonAs the hon. Member knows well, there is an African Minister of Transport and all these questions of the salaries to be paid by the Nigerian Government are matters for him and not for me. That is one of the things which governs this lack of necessary experts.