HC Deb 26 March 1952 vol 498 c51W
1. Mr. Adams

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement upon development plans in Jamaica.

Mr. Lyttelton

The Government of Jamaica have revised the 10-year Development Plan in order to emphasise economic development and concentrate resources on productive schemes. The advice of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development has been sought and they have just sent a mission to Jamaica. Legislation to set up agricultural and industrial development corporations has been passed. A first land authority has been established to undertake concentrated agricultural development in a limited area, the Yallahs Valley.

In recent years private capital has been invested in new industrial enterprises, including a cement factory, a textile factory, hotels and factories for processing agricultural produce. Large-scale investment is taking place in the bauxite industry. For the future, the Jamaica Government are seeking the advice of a firm of industrial consultants from the U.S.A. and have agreed in principle that a team of United Kingdom industrial advisers should be invited to visit Jamaica.