Mr. W. T. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of the guaranteed price being paid to the West Indian sugar producers is to be set aside for social welfare on the sugar estates; and what welfare schemes have been implemented.
Mr. GriffithsSince 1st January, 1947, payments at the following rates have been made under local legislation into welfare funds for sugar workers:
- Antigua—10s. per ton of sugar exported.
- St. Lucia—10s. per ton of sugar exported.
- British Guiana—10s. per ton of sugar exported.
- Trinidad—10s. per ton of sugar exported.
- St. Kitts—20s. per ton of sugar exported.
- Jamaica—5s. per ton of sugar exported.
- Barbados—9s. 10d. per ton of sugar produced.
Antigua.—The funds are being used primarily to improve the housing of sugar workers.
St. Lucia.— A scheme for malaria control in sugar areas has been implemented.
British Guiana.— It is intended to use the funds for the rehousing of sugar workers but no grants have actually been made yet.
120WTrinidad.— A proposal to use a substantial part of the funds for rehousing sugar workers is under consideration. No expenditure has been authorised so far.
St. Kitts.— It is proposed to spend most of the money on rural housing. To date £ 4,800 has been approved for building experimental houses and £250 has been lent for lighters to transport cane from Nevis to St. Kitts.
Jamaica.—Grants have been made to meet part or the whole of the following expenditure:
Two new medical clinics have been erected, two enlarged and eight more are being built. Four ambulances have been bought and four more ordered. Four resident nurses have been appointed and eight more approved. An annual grant of £75 is made to all estates employing a doctor. Dentists have been provided for three clinics and this service is being extended to others. Grants have been made for water supplies, recreation centres and the provision of cinematograph projectors for educational and recreational purposes in sugar areas. A housing scheme is under consideration.