HC Deb 25 June 1952 vol 502 cc180-1W
72. Air Commodore Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans he has for giving assistance to the rubber industry in Malaya.

89. Mr. Edelman

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking to obtain stability in the price of Malayan rubber.

Mr. Lyttelton

Her Majesty's Government and the Malayan Governments are equally concerned about the future of the rubber industry. Natural rubber must be sold at economic prices compared with synthetic rubber.

Within Malaya the Federation Government recently imposed a cess to collect funds for replanting with high-yielding trees so as to reduce costs. This is however, a long-term measure. A more immediate measure is the encouragement of improved processing.

Her Majesty's Government and the Malayan Governments will be participating in the consideration by a working party of the International Rubber Study Group of measures to prevent burdensome surpluses or serious shortages of rubber.