§ Mr. Parryasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will evaluate the effect the proposed closure of the United Biscuits plant in Liverpool will have on the edible oil industry on Merseyside, taking into account the announcement of the proposed closure of the Central oil refinery in Liverpool and the Peerless plant in Bootle.
§ Mr. MacGregorI understand that the proposed closure of the United Biscuits factory at Edge Hill represents a reallocation of production to other factories and that its usage of edible oils is very small compared with total production in the Merseyside area. It should not, therefore, have a significant impact on the edible oil industry locally or nationally, nor is there any direct connection between it and the recently announced proposal to close the Liverpool central oil refinery. No proposal has been made to close the Peerless oil refinery.