§ 7.24 p.m.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the question standing in my name.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government if they can now, or in the near future, make any statement on future marketing policy for the West African Cocoa industry.]
§ LORD AMMONMy Lords, consultations are being held with the various parties interested in this question and consideration is being given to points raised in the course of those consultations. I am not yet in a position to say when it will be possible to make a statement of His Majesty's Government's policy in the matter but the noble Lord can be assured that in accordance with the undertaking given in another place by the then Secretary of State for the Colonies on March 29, 1945, the funds already provided for the establishment of marketing organizations in West Africa will not be drawn on for that purpose until a detailed scheme has been laid before Parliament.