§ Mr. David Adamsasked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to remedy the serious food shortage in the Seychelles by the issue of a minimum dietary essential for the maintenance of the health of the workers, the rationing of food products together with an adequate food and stock raising policy for the islands, to embrace an improvement in the depressed rates of wages of agricultural workers now stated to be below subsistence levels?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanI am aware that the maintenance of food supplies in the Seychelles, which normally depend to a very considerable extent on imports, is causing difficulties, and every effort is being made to overcome them, both by obtaining imports and by increasing local production. The Government's efforts in the latter direction have, however, lately been hindered by abnormal drought conditions. The importance of maintaining, and if possible improving, dietary standards in Seychelles as elsewhere is fully realised and all possible steps are being and will be taken to this end The only commodities which are rationed at present, are rice and sugar, the distribution of which is regulated by a coupon system.