§ 107. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in view of the risk that the production of groundnuts from the East Africa Groundnut Scheme may be appreciably reduced by drought or locusts or by outbreak of plant pests in that region, he will consider developing the production of groundnuts in another Colonial area separated from East Africa by sea, such as British Honduras, British Guiana or Mauritius.
Mr. Creech JonesThe units under groundnuts in East Africa will be spread over wide areas and, therefore, the risks will be widely spread also. But it would, of course, be very useful if groundnut production could be developed in other parts of the Colonial Empire. I am exploring74W the possibilities in West Africa and the Pacific dependencies. I am advised, however, that in the three territories mentioned by my hon. Friend it is very doubtful whether there can be any considerable development of groundnut production for reasons of soil and climate