§ Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of world conditions, what precautionary steps are being taken by Governments in the African Colonies, by organised storage or other methods, to combat the risk of local or territorial famine; and whether he will give an assurance that the aid of scientific research and engineering is being called upon to assist in a solution.
§ Mr. George HallThe encouragements offered to local food production during the war by subsidy and propaganda are being zealously maintained in view of the current world food shortage. The problem of storage has been given close consideration for some years past in East Africa, and is now again under review there. Experts in grain storage visited that area in 1943 and1944. The position has lately been substantially improved by the construction of bag storage depots, largely in obsolete military hangars, having a capacity approaching 100,000 tons, which should be sufficient to meet local shortages. In West Africa the danger of local famine is much less, and no special storage arrangements have been thought necessary there.