§ 3.16 p.m.
LORD FARINGDONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the latest information that they have received of the extent of the devastation in Mauritius and, in particular, how many houses and how many huts have been destroyed, and what percentage of the sugar crop and of the tea crop, and whether the damage to the tea factory will render it inoperative during this season and finally what is the estimated value of the losses suffered.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COLONIAL AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF PERTH)My Lords, cyclone "Carol" which struck Mauritius on the 27th and 28th February was the most severe ever recorded in the island's history. There were over 1,700 casualties; 42 people were killed and 95 seriously injured. Over 100,000 buildings and huts were destroyed or seriously damaged. Nearly 70,000 of the island's total population of 600,000 are now in refugee centres. The House will recall that cyclone "Carol" was preceded in January by cyclone "Alix", which killed eight people, injured over a hundred and destroyed over 20,000 buildings and huts.
It is estimated that as much as 60 per cent. of the year's sugar crop may prove to have been lost, though the size of the final crop will naturally depend on the weather during the remainder of the season. About 30 per cent. of this season's tea crop has been lost, but I am advised that no serious damage has been suffered by mature tea bushes. The Government's tea factory is likely to be out of action for some months, but the remaining factory capacity of the island will be able to handle this season's reduced tea crop.
1268 It is not yet possible to give any estimate of the total value of the losses suffered, though it runs into many millions of pounds. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies has made arrangements for a team of his advisers to visit Mauritius to look into the cyclone damage and measures for reconstruction, this in consultation with an economic survey mission which is now visiting the Island to consider a long-term development programme.
As my right honourable friend has announced in another place, he has arranged to pay a short visit to Mauritius between the 9th and 12th April after his forthcoming tour of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Finally, I should like to take this opportunity of again expressing the gratitude of Her Majesty's Government to the French Government and to all the other Governments and organisations, such as the Red Cross, which gave such generous help to the people of Mauritius in the disaster they have suffered.
LORD FARINGDONMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl very much for that extensive answer. I wonder whether he would agree that the second cyclone has now rendered quite inadequate the £2 million which Her Majesty's Government, after the first cyclone, said they would make available. Have Her Majesty's Government any plans for the provision of additional aid?
§ THE EARL OF PERTHMy Lords, the answer is Yes. Clearly, the help which it was originally announced, after the first cyclone, we were planning to give, subject to Parliamentary approval, in the form of loans and grants is not now going to be sufficient. A mission has now been arranged and has gone out to see the extent of the damage, and Her Majesty's Government have in mind to talk to the Government of Mauritius about what we can do to put things right.