§ Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what amount has accumulated in the marketing board in Nigeria; and what sterling balances stand to the credit of the Nigerian Government at the latest known date.
§ Mr. LytteltonThere are four marketing boards in Nigeria, the Cocoa, Cotton, Groundnuts and Oil Palm Produce Marketing Boards. The following figures, which will be published in their next annual reports, show total reserves at the end of the last crop year (which varies with the crop):
- Cocoa Marketing Board. £33,001,420.
- Oil Palm Produce Marketing Board, £21,638,740.
- Groundnut Marketing Board, £12,366,833.
- Cotton Marketing Board, £3,243,909.
With regard to the second part of the Question, particulars of the sterling balances of the Nigerian Government as 23W at the 31st December, 1951, have recently been given in the Nigerian House of Representatives as follow:
- Cash with the Crown Agents, £695.
- Joint Colonial Fund, £12,173,000.
- Surplus Cash Invested, £4,453,817.
- Special Funds Invested, £16,817,124.
- Nigerian Savings Certificates, £615,909.