§ LORD KILMANYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows;
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will give consideration to reopening the sugar factory at Cupar, Fife, so that Scottish farmers may play their part in producing much-needed sugar.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE SCOTTISH OFFICE (LORD HUGHES)My Lords, this is not a mater for Her Majesty's Government. The sugar beet factory at Cupar was sold in 1973 by the then owners, the British Sugar Corporation. The question whether the Corporation or any other organisation would wish to recommence beet sugar production in Scotland is a matter for their commercial judgment.
§ LORD KILMANYMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Is he aware that the last time I asked him this Question and he was good enough to answer, the reply was very similar to what it has been this afternoon? That was more than five years ago. Does the noble Lord not recollect that since that time sugar has become in short supply and is very expensive? In view of this fact, is it not a pity to deny Scottish farmers the opportunity of contributing towards the provision of a crop which is so very much needed?
§ LORD HUGHESMy Lords, I am well aware of these facts because for two years, while I had responsibilty for agriculture at the Scottish Office, I spent a great deal of my time in co-operation with the Scottish National Farmers' 864 Union in trying to get the acreage of beet grown in Scotland raised to a figure which would have kept the factory as an economic proposition. It proved to be impossible. It fell to as low as 6,000 acres when 16,000 acres were needed. If at this time anyone was prepared to open a new refinery and could persuade sufficient farmers to grow the crop, then possibly they might find it worth their while. It is not for me to say whether or not that is possible.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he remembers that just before the factory was sold a consortium of Scottish farmers offered the British Sugar Corporation the sum of £200,000 to buy the factory and to work it, and the British Sugar Corporation stated in reply that they would not sell it for less than £700,000? As the noble Lord said that it has now been sold, can he tell the House who has bought it, and for what sum of money it was sold? Also, can he say whether the machinery has been scrapped, or whether it has been replaced by some other kind of machinery?
§ LORD HUGHESMy Lords, I cannot say whether the machinery has been scrapped. It has certainly been removed from the Cupar factory. The factory was sold to a Belfast firm called L. J. Wilson (Engineering) Limited and I gather there have since been a series of transactions, the commercial nature of which it is not my business to explore. What I have been able to find out is that one very small part of the factory only is in occupation, having been purchased by a local Cupar firm.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, am I to understand that the noble Lord does not know—probably there is no reason why he should—what the price was?
§ LORD HUGHESMy Lords, I did not ask what the price was, because I had a suspicion that if I did I would be told to mind my own business.