HC Deb 04 May 1943 vol 389 cc38-9W
Mr. Turton

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the use that is being made of local resources in Cyrenaica and Tripolitania, stating who is responsible for agricultural development in these occupied enemy provinces, and the area that is at present under cereal and fruit cultivation, respectively?

Sir J. Grigg

The development of local resources in Cyrenaica and Tripolitana is the responsibility of the British Military Administration. Every effort is being made to make these territories self-supporting. In Cyrenaica 105,000 acres are under cereals and 3,500 under fruit. In Tripolitania 194,000 acres are under cereals and 50,000 under fruit. In addition there are in all about 1,500,000 date palms in the two territories.