asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he anticipates obtaining additional supplies of meat from the Colonies for United Kingdom consumption in the coming 12 months.

Measures are being taken to develop livestock production in the Colonies with a view to meeting the steadily rising local demand for meat and to providing a surplus for export. Livestock development schemes, however, necessarily take a considerable time to mature and it would be overoptimistic to expect that any appreciable quantities of meat from the Colonies will become available for the United Kingdom within the period suggested.