HC Deb 19 February 1948 vol 447 cc271-2W
Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken to implement the recommendation, in the Nyasaland Post War Development Plan, that Central Africa should produce more tobacco.

Mr. Rees-Williams

Grants have been made under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts to meet the cost of an experimental scheme for growing flue-cured tobacco at Kasungu in Nyasaland and to finance the Nyasaland General Agricultural Experiment Station which will be particularly concerned with improved methods of growing and curing tobacco. An expert is at present on a visit to Central and East Africa to investigate the possibilities of increasing the production of certain types of tobacco. Discussions with the United Kingdom Manufacturers about the possibility of their taking more Empire tobacco are proceeding.