§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied that if S. and W. Berisford proceed with their bid for the British Sugar Corporation, sufficient safeguards exist to ensure tht the conditions set out by the Mononopolies and Mergers Commission as being necessary to protect the public interest are met; and if Her Majesty's Government intend to retain its shareholding in the British Sugar Corporation.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimI refer to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend's six earlier questions on 10 April. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the undertakings sought from S. and W. Berisford, which are in line with the Commission's recommendations, require the company to take action requisite, in my right hon. Friend's opinion, for remedying the adverse effects of the proposed merger specified in the Commission's report.
The retention of the Government shareholding in the corporation is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.