§ 28. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what developments are in progress for the commercial utilisation of bagasse in Mauritius; and whether his attention and that of the Government of Mauritius has been called to projects recently initiated on a considerable scale in Puerto Rico and Cuba and for the manufacture from bagasse of paper, cardboard and hardboard of high quality.
§ Mr. ProfumoBagasse has been considered for use in the local manufacture of cement, but the tests were disappointing. A very well-known paper manufacturing company investigated in October. 1956, the possibilities of establishing a pulp mill in Mauritius for processing bagasse but found that there was not enough bagasse likely to be available to support the project. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "Yes. Sir."
§ Mr. JohnsonWould the Minister confirm that 20 per cent. of the active working population of Mauritius is unemployed—that one man in five is unemployed? Is not this scandalous? Will he explore this or any other possible industries to give these men jobs?
§ Mr. ProfumoI think that is a very much wider question than the question of bagasse, which is on the Order Paper and which I answered. I think I had better ask the hon. Member to put a Question on the Order Paper.