§ Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has reached a decision regarding the develop- 188W ment of new sugar estates by Tate and Lyle Limited upon African reserve land at Gwembe, Northern Rhodesia; and what discussions have been held by the Protectorate Government with the Northern Rhodesian African Advisory Council in this matter.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe matter is still very much in the exploratory stage and no decisions have yet been reached. On 14th June, 1956, the African Representative Council adopted a resolution recommending that because of shortage of land the development of a sugar growing scheme in the Gwembe district should not be undertaken. Assurances were given by the Government that the land involved was unoccupied and was not required for resettlement. Should firm proposals involving the use of native reserve land in the area be made, they would be the subject of consultations with the Gwembe Native Authority, including the possibility of devising an African cultivator's Scheme on co-operative or peasant farm lines.