§ Mr. Neil Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that the independent directors appointed to the board of The Observer Ltd., in accordance with the conditions recommended by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in 1981, can effectively exercise the role ascribed to them.
§ Mr. HowardYes. I have had no representations from the independent directors that they are unable to exercise the functions ascribed to them.
§ Mr. Neil Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that all the conditions recommended by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in 1981 for the transfer of The Observer Ltd., to Lonrho are being met in full; and if he will make a statement.
Quantity (thousand metric tonnes) 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 France 4.7 15.2 6.5 2.1 2.0 11.4 Belgium/Luxembourg 3.2 0.4 7.8 14.2 14.2 10.9 Netherlands 0.4 3.6 29.9 26.6 131.8 137.9 Federal Republic of Germany 0.9 0.3 13.7 48.6 114.3 113.5 Irish Republic 133.7 94.7 129.3 168.0 86.8 73.2 Spain 1.5 0.0 — 0.0 7.1 43.0 German Democratic Republic — — 0.0 18.0 54.9 51.6 Poland 0.0 2.9 0.1 0.1 15.8 56.0 Other countries 2.5 0.9 0.8 4.2 1.5 2.1 TOTAL 146.9 118.0 188.1 281.8 428.5 499.6 Source: Country of origin data corresponding to SITC/R2 Sub-group 661.2 in the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics.
Notes:
(i) figures for 1984 are provisional.
(ii) —signifies nil trade; 0.0 signifies trade of less than 50 metric tonnes.
(iii) due to rounding totals shown may not correspond exactly to the sum of constituent items.