Vegetable Oils and Fats

Oral Answers to Questions — Civil Aviation – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 5 December 1951.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Cyril Bence Mr Cyril Bence , Dunbartonshire East 12:00, 5 December 1951

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the figures, quantity and value of vegetable oils and fats produced from Colonial Territories in the past 12 months.

Photo of Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd , Mid Bedfordshire

The latest figures available are for the year ending 30th June, 1951.

Exports in this period were: oilseeds and copra 922,000 tons, vegetable oils 298,000 tons, total value £80 million.

I will arrange for more detailed figures to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Photo of Mr Robert Hudson Mr Robert Hudson , Southport

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the groundnuts scheme made any contribution to this total?

Photo of Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd , Mid Bedfordshire

A very modest one, compared with that of private enterprise.

Photo of Mr Emanuel Shinwell Mr Emanuel Shinwell , Easington

Does not the vast amount of material produced in the Colonial Territories, as indicated by the right hon. Gentleman, justify the colonial policy of the late Government?

Photo of Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd , Mid Bedfordshire

I do not quite see the application of what the right hon. Gentleman says. The promotion and production of raw materials is obviously a highly desirable objective, in which we are all engaged. The best way to do it may well evoke a certain amount of difference of opinion.

Following are the details of colonial exports of vegetable oils and oilseeds:

(i) To THE U.K., (ii) To OTHER DESTINATIONS DURING THE YEAR ENDING 30TH JUNE, 1951
CommodityYear ending June, 1951
'000 tons£'000
Coconut Oil(i)181,952
(ii)558,060
Palm Oil(i)22217,575
(ii)3320
Copra (a)(i)593,301
(ii)1069,437
Groundnuts(i)27515,158
Palm Kernels(i)47223,472
(ii)10687

Note:—(a) Excludes trade between the British West Indian Colonies.

SUMMARY
'000 tons£'000
Vegetable Oils(i)24019,527
(ii)588,380
29827,907
Copra and Oilseeds(i)80641,931
(ii)11610,124
92252,055
GRAND TOTALS1,22079,962