Sugar (Hansard, 11 June 1979)

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is Tate and Lyle Ltd. percentage share of the United Kingdom sugar market.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
Tate and Lyle Ltd. annual report for the year ended 30 September 1978 stated that Tate and Lyle refineries supplied about 50 per cent. of the United Kingdom's sugar requirements.

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the British Sugar Corporation's percentage share of the United Kingdom sugar market.
88W

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
In the year October 1977 to September 1978 home produced sugar from beet, processed by the British Sugar Corporation, equalled about 41 per cent. of United Kingdom sugar consumption.

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is Tate and Lyle Ltd. percentage share of the United Kingdom syrups and starch market.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
No figures are available to indicate Tate and Lyle Ltd. percentage share of the United Kingdom syrups and starch market.

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the British Sugar Corporation's percentage share of the United Kingdom syrups and starch market.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
I regret that the information is not available.

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost to public funds of the Tate and Lyle consumer safeguards committee; and if he will publish a breakdown of the expenditure.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
None. The committee chairman and members are unpaid and such other costs as arise are met by Tate and Lyle Ltd.

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to abolish the Tate and Lyle consumer safeguards committee.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The committee was established on 9 June 1977 for a period of three years. The future of the committee will be considered before the end of this period.

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report the names of the chairman and members of the Tate and Lyle consumer safeguards committee.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The chairman and members of the committee are:

Mr. J. E. Bolton, chairman.

Mr. B. G. Bennion.

Sir Alexander Durie.
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Mrs. C. R. Fulop.

Sir Frederick Hayday.

Mr. A. Norton.

Mr. E. J. Thompson.

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times, and on what dates, the Tate and Lyle consumer safeguards committee has met.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The committee has met four times. The dates of the meetings were: 13 June 1977; 13 September 1977; 7 February 1978; 24 April 1978.
I understand that the committee will be meeting again later this month.

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many complaints the Tate and Lyle consumer safeguards committee has considered; and what organisations, firms or individuals have complained.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The committee has not received any complaints.

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the minutes of the meetings of the Tate and Lyle consumer safeguards committee.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
No. The committee reports to Ministers, and its reports are made public.

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the British Sugar Corporation is owned by Tate and Lyle Ltd.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
Although the Government at present own 24.18 per cent. of the issued capital of the British Sugar Corporation, the ownership of the remaining shares is not the responsibility of the Government.

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the British Sugar Corporation is owned by Her Majesty's Government.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The Government hold 14½ million 50p shares in the British Sugar Corporation Ltd. These represent 24.18 per cent. of the issued capital.
90W

§ Mr. John Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to dispose of Her Majesty's Government holdings in the British Sugar Corporation.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The Queen's Speech contained proposals to reduce State ownership. Detailed proposals are under consideration.