HL Deb 01 March 1949 vol 161 cc2-3

2.39 p.m.

LORD RENNELL

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

[To ask His Majesty's Government how many more cacao trees in the Gold Coast are now estimated to have been infected with swollen shoot disease as compared with the figure of 50,000,000 out of about 400,000,000 given on September 15, 1948; how many diseased trees have been cut out since that date: and what is the estimated production of cocoa for the year 1948–49.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COLONIAL AFFATRS (THE EARL OF LISTOWFL)

My Lords, it is estimated that a further 4,000,000 trees have become infected since September 15, 1948. The number of trees cut out between September 1, 1948, and January 31, 1949, is 1,134,653. The estimated production for the crop season 1948–49 is about 275,000 tons.

LORD RENNELL

My Lords, I am obliged to the noble Earl for his answer. I would ask him whether he can give any forecast of the cutting-out programme that will mitigate the impression that this scourge is gaining over the efforts made to eradicate it.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, I assure the noble Lord that the Gold Coast Government are doing everything possible by way of propaganda to get the recommendations of the expert Commission on cutting out accepted by Gold Coast farmers, and are also planning a further cutting-out campaign which, when ready, will be submitted to the Administrative Council of the Gold Coast.