§ Mr. Brewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to encourage 137W beef production in the Leeward Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
§ Mr. WoodAdvice on this subject is given by the agricultural adviser of the British Development Division in the Caribbean and a regional livestock adviser at present stationed in Antigua. Details of our aid are as follows:
Antigua
British aid amounting to £64,000 is being provided towards the cost of a large-scale livestock development programme in Antigua. Twenty farms for tenant livestock producers are planned, and the cost is to be met from a loan by the Caribbean Development Bank to which Britain is a contributor.
We are giving £37,000 towards an agricultural/livestock development project in the small island of Barbuda.
St. Kitts
My advisers have helped with the drawing-up of a comprehensive livestock development plan for the island. An application for a farm improvement credit is at present being considered by the Caribbean Development Bank.
Montserrat
A grant of £11,121 has been made in order to implement the first phase of the expansion and improvement of the Government livestock centre, the purpose of which is to supply good quality beef and dairy stock to settlement farmers.
Capital aid of £37,574 has been directed towards a land settlement scheme, which includes provision for four livestock units; and a further £9,166 has been made available for a laboratory and animal health building.
British Virgin Islands
At the request of the British Virgin Islands Government, we are recruiting, on overseas service aid scheme terms, a livestock officer to advise on the aid promotion of the livestock industry. Financial aid is also being given to the development of the Government livestock farm, which is carrying out research work into the development of beef cattle.