§ Sir E. RAMSDENasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the House any information with regard to the progress of the sisal industry in the British Colonies and mandated territories in East Africa?
Mr. THOMASYes, Sir, I am happy to be able to inform my hon. Friend that the industry is making excellent progress. Total exports in 1933 from the territories concerned were 89,000 tons. In 1934 this increased to 96,000 tons and in 1935 to 111,000 tons. There has also been a great improvement in prices and the price which has prevailed for the last few months is about double the price at the beginning of 1935.