§ 55. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present position and future intentions of Her Majesty's Government on the African Groundnuts Scheme.
§ Mr. LytteltonThe Overseas Food Corporation is continuing the experimental programme described in Command 8125. The talks with the Tanganyika Government to which I referred on 25th February are still proceeding. I am not yet in a position to make a statement, but will do so as soon as I can.
§ 57. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish a White Paper containing a full report, minutes of committees, letters and memoranda since the shortage of fats arose, the dates when the United Africa Company and Unilevers were approached and their replies and including any other information on record; and why Her Majesty's Government have now decided to hand over the management of the groundnuts and subsidiary industries in Africa to these organs of private enterprise.
§ Mr. LytteltonNo. As I informed the hon. Member last week there is no truth in the report that the Government have decided to hand over the Groundnut Scheme to private enterprise. East Africa Industries Limited, with which United Africa Company are now associated, is in no way connected with the Groundnut Scheme, but is a subsidiary of the Colonial Development Corporation.