HC Deb 29 April 1968 vol 763 cc136-7W
Mr. Roebuck

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the effect of sanctions on the tobacco industry in Southern Rhodesia.

Mr. Whitlock

Pre-I.D.I. Rhodesia's annual production of tobacco was between 250 and 300 million lbs. In 1965, Rhodesia exported 266 million lbs. of tobacco worth nearly £47 million.

As a result of sanctions, the régime have subsequently had to buy in the whole of each crop. The target for the 1968–69 crop is 132 million lbs. for which the régime have allocated £12.1 million, a price of 22d. per lb.

Following urgent representations from the Rhodesian Tobacco Association that a price below 26d. per lb. would be unrealistic, the régime are reported to have admitted that the offer of 22d. had been a mistake, and to have made alternative proposals which, however, are said to have been rejected by the Rhodesian Tobacco Association at a special meeting in Salisbury on 22nd April.