§ Mr. Sharpasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent present rehabilitation grants compensate farmers in the Gold Coast for the loss of income from cocoa trees which are cut out; and what further attempts are being made to secure the co-operation of the farmers.
Mr. Creech JonesThe grants paid under the present rehabilitation scheme are intended as a measure of compensation for income lost between cutting-out and death. A diseased cocoa tree may bear one, or perhaps two, crops between the times of infection and of death. The estimate of loss must obviously vary according to the stage of disease at which the tree is cut out. The grants are, however, at fixed rates of 2s. for living tree of seven inches or more round the trunk and sixpence for a tree of smaller size if over two years old. A further sixpence is paid for every young tree established to replace a tree cut out. As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing at present to add to my reply of 26th January to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Reid).