HC Deb 09 May 1951 vol 487 cc220-1W
68. Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in view of the fact that the Annual Report of the Colonial Development Corporation contains serious criticisms of the former management he proposes making any further changes in the directorate of the Corporation.

Mr. Dugdale

If the hon. Member is asking whether my right hon. Friend proposes to make any changes in the board of the Corporation as the direct result of the Annual Report the answer is "No." Changes in the composition of the board may occur however from time to time since appointments are not permanent.

72. Mr. Hurd

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if a decision has now been reached on the future of the Colonial Development Corporation's poultry project in the Gambia.

Mr. Dugdale

On the basis of the Mission's Report, the Board concluded that the chances of ultimate success of the original project to produce poultry and eggs were slender; it might have been possible to proceed with a modified project for a few years, severely limited in scope and expenditure, to determine the possibilities of reviving poultry rearing after some years at a profitable level, but unfortunately, since the Mission reported, there has been an outbreak of Newcastle Disease among the poultry, and this coming on top of the other considerations has led the Corporation to decide that all further efforts to rear poultry in the Gambia must finally be abandoned.

There will remain a considerable area of cleared land on which agricultural development of value to the restricted economy of the Gambia may be possible. To examine this possibility, the Corporation are setting up an Agricultural Working Party on which my right hon. Friend has agreed to appoint representatives. The Working Party hopes to begin its meetings in London next week.