HC Deb 01 April 1953 vol 513 cc150-1W
60. Sir Edward Keeling

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the progress of the Gold Coast and Nigeria in dealing with swollen shoot.

Mr. Lyttelton

Good progress has been made in the Gold Coast since the introduction last September of a more drastic procedure for the early removal of infected trees. Most farmers have cooperated with the Government to speed up the renewed cutting out campaign. All known infected trees in Ashanti, and almost all in the Western Colony and Trans-Volta Regions, have been removed. In the mass-infected area of the Eastern Region much remains to be done. In Nigeria the Government have continued without hindrance its policy of surveying and cutting out diseased trees to isolate the area of mass infection by means of a cordon sanitaire. The annual review of this policy is now proceeding.