HL Deb 18 December 2000 vol 620 cc32-3WA
Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are taking any action to ensure that the effects of the "Everything But Arms" initiative on the Sugar Regime, in particular the ACP Sugar Protocol and the Special Preferential Sugar Agreement, form part of the studies to be undertaken by the European Commission in the next two years. [HL35]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)

United Kingdom negotiators have made clear that we think it essential that the coverage of the studies should be comprehensive and that they should be handled transparently, with all those concerned being given an opportunity to input. We have also pressed for the implications of the Commission's "Everything But Arms" proposal to be fully considered in the context of the current sugar reform discussions.