13. Mrs. Butlerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what price per pint of milk is paid in Kampala and the surrounding district; what is the average daily wage of the population; and what efforts are being made by the Government of Uganda to provide a lower-priced milk, as suggested by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation Report in 1958.
§ Mr. J. AmeryIn and around Kampala, the price of imported milk is 65–70 cents a pint and local milk averages 55 cents. Only about 6 per cent. of the total population of some 5½ million in Uganda is in paid employment at any one time, and only a small minority of those are entirely dependent on wages. Wage rates vary considerably depending on skill, occupation and district, but the average daily wage in Kampala is 5s.
The Uganda Government are encouraging local milk production by research and advice to livestock owners. At present there is no local surplus for processing as suggested in the Food and Agriculture Organisation Report, but a Kenya firm, in conjunction with the Uganda Development Corporation, is considering establishing such a project using surplus milk from Kenya.
Mrs. ButlerI thank the Minister for that reply. In view of the fact that the F.A.O. Report suggested that milk per pint would cost the lower-paid wage earners a quarter of their daily wages and of the great need for milk in the territory, can the Minister say whether, in addition to the measures already being taken, the Uganda Government have asked U.N.I.C.E.F. for an extension of the milk powder in schools scheme, as I raised this matter last December and the hon. Gentleman promised to call attention to that possibility?