§ 41. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a further statement regarding the additional cost arising from long storage of the 1952–53 crop of groundnuts in Nigeria.
§ Mr. LytteltonThe additional cost to the Marketing Board is estimated at nearly £1½million. I am grateful to the hon. Member for this opportunity to correct the wrong figure I gave on 16th December, which was due to a clerical error.
§ Mr. JohnsonWould the Minister be equally candid and confess his error, or what the score was, because he gave me a figure of 150,000 tons, whereas it should be £1½million? May I ask him if it is not a fact that the piles of groundnuts in Kano in October last year were larger than they were in October, 1953, and can he give me an assurance, as in the past, that he will move them with ever-accelerating vigour?
§ Mr. LytteltonOn the first point, I admit that I am in a white sheet, but not for the first time in our rough island 399 story one nought has got out of place. In regard to the hon. Gentleman's second question, I investigated the matter of lifting these groundnut stocks when I was recently in Nigeria, and I got a very heartening report both as to the amount of railings now and the arrival of the locomotives which the Government have done everything to accelerate, and I think we shall see an improving position.
§ Mr. TilneyIs my right hon. Friend aware that the crop of groundnuts this year is considerably less than was estimated to this House last December, that a great many new locomotives have arrived, and that, due to the increased efficiency of the railway, it is hoped that within two years no groundnut pyramids will be seen in Kano?
§ Mr. JohnsonIs it not a fact that the total amount of groundnuts lying at Kano in October last was 186,000 tons, whereas 12 months before it was something like 170,000 tons? Am I not correct?
§ Mr. LytteltonThe hon. Gentleman must not ask me to commit myself to figures without notice, but I think the figures are approximately correct.