§ 61. Mr. Greyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what grants and loans were made to the Jamaican Government as a relief measure after the 1951 hurricane; to state in detail the purpose for which they were to be used; and if these grants and loans have now been spent.
§ purchased by the Government in Nyasaland, the price given, and from whom it was purchased.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydYes, Sir; but, as the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAs the answer is long and includes a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ After the hurricane. Her Majesty's Government made an immediate grant of £250,000 for relief, and subsequently agreed to make available, subject to the approval of detailed schemes, a maximum of £4,600,000 in grants and loans towards the cost of reconstruction.
1177§ Details of the reconstruction schemes and of the extent to which the moneys had been spent at the end of 1954 are given in the table below.
| U.K. AID TO JAMAICA HURRICANE (1951) RECONSTRUCTION | ||
| Scheme | Approved ceiling (including amendments) | Expenditure to 31st December, 1954 |
| £ | £ | |
| Agriculture | ||
| 1. Banana rehabilitation | 500,000 | 500,000 |
| 2. Coconut rehabilitation: | ||
| (a) Insurance | 124,282 | 124,282 |
| (b) Subsidies | 55,000 | 31,885 |
| 3. Nurseries | 45,000 | 45,000 |
| 4. Farm recovery | 805,718 | 467,981 |
| 5. Mechanical implements | 160,000 | 160,000 |
| Housing | ||
| 6. Rural housing | 865,000 | 418,770 |
| 7. Urban housing | 702,500 | 341,312 |
| 8. Aid to lower and middle income groups | 282,500 | 21,668 |
| 9. Administration | 150,000 | 150,000 |
| 10. Emergency building supplies | 250,000 | 250,000 |
| Education | ||
| 11. Denominational schools | 175,000 | 142,401 |
| 12. University College of the West Indies | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| 13. Repairs to Government's roads, buildings, etc. | 395,000 | 335,794 |
| 4,590,000 | 3,069,093 |
§ NOTES:
§ (1) Aid to lower and middle income groups.—Originally a sum of £400,000 was made available to help householders in the lower and middle income groups to repair and reconstruct their damaged houses. The demand for such loans has never been great. In 1952 £117,500 of the sum allocated to this scheme was transferred to the rural and urban housing schemes. In view of the large amount still unspent, it is understood that the Jamaican Government intends to put in proposals for a re-allocation to some other form of hurricane reconstruction. These are awaited.
§ (2) The urban and rural housing programme was delayed by the need to set up a suitable organisation and by difficulties in acquiring sites, examining titles, etc. It is likely that all the money will eventually be spent.
§ (3) The farm recovery scheme was held up mainly because of lack of planting material. The scheme will cease when all funds are spent or when the Farm Development Programme comes into operation (whichever is the earlier). It has been one of the most beneficial projects ever undertaken for the assistance of the small farmer in Jamaica.