CONGRATULATIONS on obtaining the papers surrounding the controversial takeover of Rowntree’s by Nestlé in 1988 (Revealed: Secret Files on Rowntree, The Press, December 23).

Your report reveals how muddled Government policy was at the time on foreign takeovers – a trait that, unfortunately, continues to this day.

Happily, since then, Nestlé has continued to invest heavily in their York operation despite their base being in Switzerland – which is, of course, outside the EU and retains control of its own borders.

Perhaps there are some other lessons to be drawn from this takeover?

David Farnsworth, Old Orchard, Haxby, York.