70. Miss Leeasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the price paid for the products of the Demerara Bauxite Company, British Guiana, by its parent body in Canada; and what price is paid by other consumers.
§ Mr. ProfumoAs the reply contains a number of figures in tabular form I will, with permission, arrange for it to be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the table:
| PRICES OBTAINED BY THE DEMERARA BAUXITE CO., LTD., FOR ITS PRODUCTS | ||
| Product | Average Prices per ton obtained during first quarter of 1957 | |
| From parent body | From other consumers | |
| $ | $ | |
| Dried bauxite | ||
| (a)Metal grades | 12.15 | — |
| (b)Other grades | — | 12.10 |
| Calcined bauxite | — | 35.56 |
§ Prices are f.o.b. Mackenzie, British Guiana. $4s. 2d.
71. Miss Leeasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what information he has concerning plans, made by the Demerara Bauxite Company, to smelt aluminium in British Guiana on a scale that will provide a substantial increase in employment and industrial development within the Colony.
§ Mr. ProfumoNone, Sir, but the Company has recently announced a 60 million West Indian dollar programme for installing plant to process bauxite to alumina. The construction of this plant will give employment to about 1,500 people. When the plant is fully operating, permanent employment will be available for about 700 people.
Miss LeeIs the Under-Secretary of State aware that while capital going into British Guiana is appreciated, there is a fear that a scarce and valuable raw material is being used up in British Guiana without enough manufacturing going on in British Guiana to justify that?
§ Mr. ProfumoI think that the fear will prove to be unfounded.