HC Deb 07 July 1925 vol 186 c228
68. Mr. STEPHEN

asked the Minister for Agriculture the total amount of capital of the companies which are receiving subsidy under the Sugar Beet Subsidy Acts; the proportion of this capital which is owned by people of other than British nationality; and the amounts of the subsidy enjoyed by these firms?

Captain HACKING

The 10 beet sugar factories which are built or in course of being built have a nominal share capital of £2,845,000. Of this sum, £1,891,459 has been issued, of which, I am informed, £825,299 is owned by people of other than British nationality. The net amount of subsidy paid on sugar and molasses produced from home-grown beet during the past manufucturing season to the three factories then in operation, after deducting the Excise Duty, was £246,806 7s. 7d.

Mr. STEPHEN

Can the hon. and gallant Member state why all this capital had to be obtained from foreign sources when the capitalists of this country could invest £12,000,000 in the German Loan?