§ Mr. Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the price which has been guaranteed to growers of pyrethrum in Kenya under the recently concluded contract; how this compares with prices in preceding years; and the numbers of the European and African licence holders who are affected by this contract?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansThe Ministry of Supply has guaranteed the purchase up to the end of 1947 of the total East African production of pyrethrum from acreage planted by the end of 1943. In respect of 1944 production, the grower will receive IS. 3d. per lb., the price for each subsequent year being re-negotiated in the light of movements in the cost of production. This price corresponds to that realised by growers in the season 1939–40 and is higher than the return in any other war year. Precise and up-to-date figures are not available regarding the number of licence holders affected, but in May, 1942, it was reported that licence holders totalled 989, of whom 11 were Africans.