§ Colonel Lyonsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any steps have been taken in those Colonies liable to suffer from local food shortages through drought, to arrange for a modern system of food storage; and whether this question has been referred to the Colonial Research Committee for scientific investigation.
§ Colonel StanleyYes, Sir; the importance of improved methods of food storage has been brought to the notice of all Colonial Governments, and they have been kept informed of scientific developments in that field. War-time shortages of staff and materials have restricted progress, but some Colonies have been able to take practical action, e.g. a grain storage plant is now being erected in Kenya, and in other Colonies measures have been taken with financial assistance from the Colonial Development and Welfare Vote. The Colonial Research Committee has not yet examined this question, but my advisers are in close touch with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in the work that Department is conducting on pest infestation. Special investigations in the Colonies are now under consideration.