§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what comments, and when, were made by the business reporting agency used by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce to report on the financial position of the Trent Grain company.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 17 December 1986, c. 599]: Information provided by the business reporting agency is subject to a contractual condition of confidentiality.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on which dates a stock loss at Trent Grain was 829W (a) suspected and (b) confirmed; and what action was taken after the earlier date to (i) minimise the possibility of further stock losses, (ii) recover the suspected loss and (iii) investigate the financial position of the company.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 17 December 1986, c. 600]: The possibility of a shortfall of intervention grain stocks at the Uttoxeter store was first suggested by volumetric analysis in August 1985. Thereafter every opportunity was taken to dispose of the grain from this store in order to minimise the risk of further losses and to reduce the stock to a level at which weighing was practicable. In the meantime the company's financial position was monitored, principally through a business reporting agency. The weighing operation began in July 1986 and when completed in October confirmed the existence of a shortfall. Action could not be taken before the loss was confirmed, but the board is now pursuing the recovery of the deficiency.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department has obtained a copy of the 1985 annual report of the Trent Grain company.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 17 December 1986, c. 600]: I understand that the company's 1985 annual report has not yet been submitted to the Registrar of Companies.
§ Mr. Maclennanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has regarding the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce's investigations into the grain holding of Trent Grain Ltd.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 18 December 1986, c. 625]: Investigations have revealed a shortfall in the stock of intervention grain held at the Uttoxeter store and recovery of the deficiency is being pursued.