§ Mr. Pickthornasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the average cost of bagging maize bought at Kenya marketing centres, storing it, and transporting it to railhead; and whether there is any discrimination in price between European and African-grown maize on any ground except that of quality?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanThe minimum price fixed by regulation for African-grown maize in Kenya is 6 shillings 20 cents. This price is exclusive of payments for various services and a quality differential, which are assessed by the Government as follow:
- Holding charges—85 cents.
- Quality differential—25 cents.
- Cost of bag—I shilling 20 cents.
- Trader's commission—50 cents.
African growers who can comply with the regulations by delivering maize of first quality in bags at railhead in 10-ton lots will receive 9s. per bag, which is the control price for maize of this quality, whatever its origin. There is no discrimination between African-grown and European-grown maize on any ground other than quality. The above arrangements have superseded those which I described on 22nd July in reply to the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones), and the minimum price fixed by regulation is now paid in full to the African producer.