§ 42. Mr. Royleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what support is being given by Her Majesty's Government to the commission appointed by the Jamaican Government to consider the marketing of bananas.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIn instituting this inquiry the Jamaican Government have not sought the advice of Her Majesty's Government, although they did inform me that the Commission was being set up. The Commission will investigate every aspect of the banana industry and not only marketing.
§ Mr. Royleis the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great concern in Jamaica about the price of £50 15s. a ton, which is the lowest for very many years? Is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that I put this Question down to the President of the Board of Trade, but it was transferred to his Department? Should not someone be responsible for ensuring that trade relations with Jamaica are better than they are, particularly with regard to price?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThis Commission is purely an internal Jamaica matter. I am naturally extremely interested in the problem in Jamaica, the Windward Islands, and the Federation as a whole. Matters are not finally settled, but it is expected that a joint delegation from Jamaica, the Windward Islands and the West Indies Federal Government will come to London in the summer for talks on certain aspects of the price assistance scheme. That has nothing to do with the purely Jamaican commission of inquiry.