HC Deb 22 February 1946 vol 419 cc320-2W
Sir J. Mellor

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies from which colonies, dependent and mandated territories, tobacco is imported into the United Kingdom; the quantities imported from each in 1937 and in the last available year; the total production in each; and whether he has taken, or proposes to take, any steps to encourage production and export to this country.

Mr. George Hall

Imports of tobacco from the Colonies and mandated territories in 1937 and 1938 were:

1937. lb. 1938. lb.
From Nyasaland 13,504,000 13,889,000
From Northern Rhodesia 329,000 753,000
From Cyprus 279,000 206,000
From North Borneo 251,000 417,000
From Jamaica 58,000 62,000
From Kenya 41,000 14,000
From Tanganyika Territory 9,000 —
From Uganda 119.000 103,000

Imports in 1945 were:

From Nyasaland 11,572,000
From other parts of the Colonial Empire 1,578,000
(Figures for the separate Colonies are not available.)

The total production of tobacco in Nyasaland is about 20 million lb., and a further 20 million lb. is produced in the rest of the Colonial Empire. Accurate figures for the latter are, however, not available as considerable quantities are grown for local consumption, for which statistics are not kept. Active encouragement is given to the production of tobacco wherever conditions are suitable, but during the war years and at present it has been thought desirable to concentrate more on the production of food and other crops of more vital importance.