African Groundnut Scheme

58.

Mr. Rankin
asked the Minister of Food how many Africans are now employed in the groundnut scheme; and in what capacities.

Mr. Strachey
At the end of July about 2,500 Africans were employed in the groundnuts scheme, of these about 1,600 were engaged in relatively unskilled work as field labourers, camp attendants and hospital attendants. The rest were employed as motor drivers, tractor drivers, clerks and artisans or were being trained for these more highly skilled jobs.

Mr. Rankin
Will my right hon. Friend see that, when this scheme is in full working operation, the minor specialised categories will be staffed solely by African labour?

Mr. Strachey
I could not give my hon. Friend a guarantee, but the whole object of the scheme is to train Africans to the most skilled jobs possible.