HC Deb 11 June 1952 vol 502 cc28-9W
63. Mr. T. Reid

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the urgent need for wealth-producing schemes in the Colonies, especially in order to forestall famine in future in many territories, he will depart from the present practice of spending under the 10-year development plans only about as much on economic development as on social services.

Mr. Hopkinson

Expenditure within development plans must be related to the long-term needs of each territory but Her Majesty's Government continue to emphasise to all colonial Governments the importance of devoting particular attention to economic development at the present time.

64. Mr. T. Reid

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what wealth-producing schemes have been sanctioned in the Colonies as the result of the work of the Colonial Primary Products Committee, apart from those undertaken by the Colonial Development Corporation and the Overseas Food Corporation.

Mr. Hopkinson

The purpose of the Committee was to review the possibilities of increasing colonial production of different commodities in the light of present and prospective world needs. Their reports provided, as was intended, a useful background against which specific schemes of development could be planned both by Colonial Governments and by private enterprise. It is not possible to say which of the various schemes that have been started since the Committe reported result directly from the Committee's work.