Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Production whether, in view of the complete change of outlook that has taken place in the potential output of rubber available, he will take steps to release the Ceylon rubber producers from destroying 20 per cent. of their mature planted areas?
§ Mr. LytteltonI am advised that even with the growing output of synthetic rubber all available supplies of natural rubber are still necessary to meet the total demands of the United Nations, and therefore the intensive tapping to which my hon. Friend evidently refers is an unavoidable war measure. The acreage however at present affected under the scheme is not 20 per cent. but between 6 and 7 per cent. of the total acreage.