§ 38. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much public and private capital has been lost in Gambia since 1945 arising from abortive public and private economic enterprise; what further examination will take place into the best means of ensuring economic expansion in the Colony; and to what extent traditional and indigenous economic activities have expanded with the growth of population.
§ Mr. J. AmeryThe main loss in the public sector was due to the failure some years ago of the Colonial Development Corporation's poultry and rice development schemes. It was about £1.3 million I have no information regarding losses by private enterprise. The policy of the Gambia Government is to concentrate on improving communications and agriculture.
On the last part of the Question all indications are that national production has kept pace with the growth of population.
§ Mr. SorensenIs not it true that private enterprise has lost quite as much as the Corporation did some years ago, and may we at least have an assurance that the Government are paying attention to the needs of this small Colony and that, whatever failures there may have been in the past, they will not deter the Government from making new efforts on a sounder economic basis in the future.
§ Mr. AmeryWith regard to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplemen- 1348 tary question, I have no statistical information on the losses sustained by private enterprise, but I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman that we very much wish to see economic development in the Gambia.