§ 32 . Mr. FORRESTasked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give a list of the sugar-beet factories which are now actually operating, the names of those built but not operating, the names of those being built, and the names of those for which capital is actually secured; and whether he can state which factories have a substantial or controlling interest of Dutch capital, which factories have an interest of Hungarian capital, and which factories are owned by purely British capital?
Mr. GUINNESSThe beet-sugar manufacturing campaign has now ceased, but the following factories operated during the past season: Cantley, Colwick, Kelham, Ely, Ipswich, Kidderminster, Wissington, Bury St. Edmunds and Greenock. The Spalding factory was built, but did not operate. Factories are now being built at Cupar (Fife), Felstead (Essex), Poppleton (York) and Peterborough, the capital for which, I am Informed, has been secured. The Ely, Ipswich and Cantley factories have a substantial or controlling interest of Dutch capital, the Bury St. Edmunds factory has an interest of Hungarian capital, Peterborough has an interest of American capital, and, so far as I am aware, the remaining factories are solely owned by British capital.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any of the factories now being built have 860 secured capital under the trade facilities scheme; and, it so, how many?
§ Mr. HAYESIs it the case that any of the machinery for these factories has been bought abroad, instead of being bought from British manufacturers?
Mr. GUINNESSA proportion of the specialised machinery was, in the early days of the factories, bought abroad, but, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, there is a condition in the Act relating to this matter ensuring that a large percentage shall be bought in this country.