HL Deb 29 July 1947 vol 151 cc611-2

2.43 p.m.

LORD FARINGDON

My Lords, I beg to put the question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government, what measures of reafforestation are being undertaken in view of the increased production of timber in the Colonies, and in particular in British Guiana, the Gold Coast and Nigeria?]

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (VISCOUNT HALL)

My Lords, the Governments of Colonies possessing significant forest resources are including in their development programmes provision for development and reafforestation. In particular, the Governments of British Guiana, the Gold Coast and Nigeria are taking all possible steps to ensure the regeneration of their forests. Provisions to this end are being included in timber concessions granted in British Guiana and Nigeria. In the Gold Coast the position is more difficult owing to the fact that the grant of concessions is entirely in the hands of the African Chiefs, but the Government are doing everything possible to encourage them to adopt a sound forest policy.

LORD FARINGDON

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his extremely satisfactory reply, and express the hope that so far as the Gold Coast is concerned some method will be found of making a sound forestry policy effective there, too.