§ VISCOUNT BLEDISLOEasked His Majesty's Government whether, in view of the decision to abandon the Government-subsidised scheme of growing ground-nuts in the Kongwa region of Tanganyika Territory, and the proposed substitution therefor of sunflowers as a source of oil for the manufacture of margarine and other like purposes, they will consider the possible economic advantages to be derived from the stimulation (by subsidy or otherwise) of the raising of sunflowers in selected areas of Great Britain, where, according to experts, the crop can be made to yield as high a percentage of oil as in any tropical or sub-tropical region in the world.
JOINT PARLIAMENTARY THE SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON)Experiments have shown that sunflowers can be grown as a farm crop in selected areas in the South of England. However, evidence so far available suggests that the cultivation of this crop for the production of oil and animal feeding stuff is at present prices unlikely to be remunerative to the grower. It is doubtful whether the artificial stimulation of sunflower production by a subsidy would be justified.
§ House adjourned at twenty minutes past seven o'clock.