HC Deb 06 November 1995 vol 265 cc558-9W
Mr. Heppell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many public houses Scottish and Newcastle Ltd. owned or supplied before the merger with Courage Ltd.; [41967]

(2) how many public houses Scottish Courage currently own; and how many Scottish Courage will own or supply after fulfilling the undertakings given to prevent reference of the merger between Scottish and Newcastle Ltd. and Courage Ltd. to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. [41968]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

At the time of giving his advice to me on the Scottish and Newcastle/Courage merger, the Director General of Fair Trading estimated that the parties would between them have owned or supplied about 7,500 pubs, which included some 4,350 pubs owned by Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd. and supplied by Courage. This figure is not complete as it does not include all supply agreements entered into by the parties as part of their normal commercial activities. The undertakings provide for the reduction in Scottish and Newcastle's tied estate to a maximum of 2,624–115 pubs fewer than its maximum permitted tied estate under the beer orders—and for the early release of 1,000 pubs from the supply agreement with IEL. It is not possible to say how many public houses the merged company, Scottish Courage, will supply in total in the future since that will depend on how successful the company is in competing for supply agreements in the competitive beer market.

Mr. Heppell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what percentage of the United Kingdom's final beer sales is Scottish Courage's share after the merger of Scottish and Newcastle Ltd. and Courage Ltd.; [41965]

(2) what percentage of the United Kingdom's beer sales was Scottish and Newcastle Brewery Ltd.'s share before the merger with Courage Ltd.; [41964]

(3) what percentage of the United Kingdom's final beer sales will be Scottish Courage's share after the merger of Scottish and Newcastle Ltd. and Courage Ltd. [41966]

Mr. Evans

At the time of giving his advice to me on the Scottish and Newcastle/Courage merger, the Director General of Fair Trading estimated the parties' combined share of final beer sales in the UK to be about 30 per cent., of which Scottish and Newcastle had 11 per cent.