UK BISCUIT INDUSTRY

Early day motion 571, tabled 29 March 2000 by David Taylor (Labour/Co-operative). Signed by 112 members.

That this House is concerned about the acquisition of United Biscuits plc. by the Finalrealm consortium, which would lead to a dangerous concentration of ownership in the UK biscuit market with Finalrealm controlling 60 per cent; notes that partners in this consortium include Danone, which dominates the French biscuit market and owns British-based Jacobs, and also Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, an American leveraged buy-out firm which already owns Hillsdown Holdings and its subsidiary Horizon Biscuits; notes that the resultant rationalisation would lead to the loss of 3,000 manufacturing jobs; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government urgently to examine this acquisition through the Department of Trade and Industry and appropriate UK competition authorities.

Signatures by party: Labour 90, Liberal Democrat 10, Labour/Co-operative 6, Conservative 1, Independent 1, Independent Labour 1, UKUP 1, UUP 1, Unknown 1.