§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any representations about the effect on employment in the edible oil industry in Merseyside of the proposed closure of the Lyons Maid factory in Liverpool.
§ Mr. Heseltine[pursuant to his reply, 16 November 1982, c. 140]: When representatives of the Lyons Maid Liverpool action committee met an official of the Merseyside task force on 21 September 1982 they informed him of the possible adverse effect of this closure on suppliers such as Merseyside-based edible oil producers. This was reported to me together with all other aspects of the employers' representations. Although the Government regret the loss of any jobs associated with the closure it is not Government policy to interfere in the commercial judgment of firms.