Mr. Fraserasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give an estimate of the sums involved in rehabilitating the Jamaica banana industry after the recent hurricane damage and of the total amount of help to be given in the year ending. June, 1945, to this industry, both under the guaranteed purchase commitment and the rehabilitation grants and loans; and how does this compare with the funds involved for this period by his earlier undertaking in 1943.
§ Colonel StanleyOn the assumption that production has been reduced by the hurricane from 8,000,000 to 1,500,000 stems per annum the estimated expenditure under the proposals set out in my answer to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley) on 27th September is approximately as follows:
£ 1. Purchases in July and August 1944, under previous guarantee scheme 215,000 2. Purchases from date of hurricane to 30th June, 1945 157,000 3. Free grants for resuscitation and replanting 196,000 4. Loans for resuscitation and replanting 204,000 5. Loans for new planting 250,000 Total £1,022,000 This sum will be reduced by the amount realised from the sales of bananas purchased under the scheme. I regret that it is not possible to estimate revenue from this source at present.
Under the guarantee scheme in force prior to the hurricane His Majesty's Government had guaranteed the purchase of 2401W a maximum of 24,000,000 stems over the two years ending 30th June, 1945. On the assumption that production had continued at the pre-hurricane rate of 8,000,000 stems per annum during the year ending June, 1945, and that sales in this period had also continued at previous levels His Majesty's Government's liability under this scheme may be estimated as follows:
£ Purchase of Fruit … … 937,000 Less Sales Receipts … … 400,000 Total Liability … … £537,000