§ 61. Mr. Tilneyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the estimated figure that illicit diamond dealing added to the invisible income of Sierra Leone in the years 1955, 1956, and 1957, respectively; and what percentage this is of the total Sierra Leone national product in each year.
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§ Mr. ProfumoThe extent of the illicit trade cannot be precisely estimated. The Sierra Leone Government using trade figures as a guide, have, however, estimated the illicit trade at £7 million for 1955 and £10 million for 1956 and 1957, which would represent about 20 per cent. of the estimated national product.
§ 64. Mr. D. Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what success the Government of Sierra Leone have had in suppressing the illicit trade in diamonds; and what effect such success has had upon the budgetary position of the Sierra Leone Government.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe measures taken have, it is believed, appreciably reduced the illicit trade. It is not possible to calculate how much has been diverted to legitimate channels but in so far as this takes place the revenue should of course benefit.