HC Deb 19 November 1969 vol 791 c1285
4. Mr. Stodart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what grounds his Department estimated in April, 1967, that £ 150,000 would solve the problem of the sugar beet factory at Cupar in view of the fact that the loss in that year was one of £188,000 plus a transport subvention of over £30,000.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Norman Buchan)

My Department made no such estimate.

Mr. Stodart

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that the figure of £150,000 has been extracted from his own speech in an Adjournment debate? Would he not agree that the furnishing of him with those figures was an example of the British Sugar Corporation leading him just as far up the garden path as it has been leading farmers regarding the sugar beet factory in recent months?

Mr. Buchan

The hon. Gentleman, who clearly has been doing some research, should have done a little more. The figure and the estimate came from his hon. Friend the Member for Fife, East (Sir J. Gilmour).

Mr. Stodart

Quite wrong.