HC Deb 30 June 1992 vol 210 cc529-30W
Mr. Steen

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what wines are available for sale at the Expo 92 in Seville in() restaurants, (b) cafeterias and (c) other outlets, from (i) Great Britain, (ii) other EC countries and (iii) countries outside the EC; and what instructions have been given to the caterers Lyonhart with a view to them marketing and selling English wine in the British pavilion;

(2) if he will arrange for English wine to be displayed in the British pavilion at Expo 92 in Seville with a statement on where it can be bought in the pavilion; and if he will make it readily available in the main restaurant, and all other food and cafeteria outlets in the British pavilion.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 29 June 1992]: The catering concessionaires, Lionheart Catering Ltd., have been instructed to make a range of English wines available in the British pavilion, and the following are on sale there:

  • Bruisyard 1990, Bruisyard Wines
  • Fume 1990, Thames Valley Vineyard
  • Noble Bacchus 1990, Chiltern Valley
  • Pinot Noir, Thames Valley Vineyard
  • Staple St. James 1989, Staple Vineyard
  • Three Choirs 1990, Three Choirs Vineyard
  • Wooton 1990, Gillespie, North Wooton

The availability of these wines is promoted by means of product displays in the restaurants and behind the bar in the British pavilion at Expo 92 together with the wine list and notices stating that they are for sale. It would entail disproportionate cost to identify all the other wines on sale at Expo 92.

Mr. Steen

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if English wine was used at the British national day reception in May in the British pavilion, at Expo 92;

(2) if English wine has been served at all the receptions given by the Government and Government officials in the British pavilion at Expo 92; and if he will make it his policy to ensure British wine is served at all future receptions.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 29 June 1992]: Now that a range of still English wines has been supplied, we shall continue to serve one or more of them at all functions hosted by the Government and Government officials in the British pavilion at Expo 92. English wine was not used at the British national day reception in May in the British pavilion because no English sparkling wine suitable for this occasion was available from the catering concessionaire.

Mr. Steen

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for all Spanish wine for sale and consumption to be removed from the British pavilion at Expo 92.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 29 June 1992]: No. Although I have insisted that the catering concessionaire makes available a range of English wines, this alone does not provide the choice of price and varieties required to run a commercial operation.

Mr. Steen

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment he has made of the consequences for English wines and English sparkling wines of Bollinger champagne's sponsorship in the British pavilion at Expo 92;

(2) for what reasons it has been decided not to make the English white sparkling wine which was selected by the caterers who have the concession for catering at the Expo 92 available for sale in the British pavilion.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 29 June 1992]: Bollinger champagne's sponsorship in the British pavilion at Expo 92 was assessed to have no direct consequences for English wines or English sparkling wines because these products are in rather different market sectors. The catering concessionaire for the British pavilion did not include a sparkling wine in its selection of English wines.

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