§ 77. Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the conference of Commonwealth sugar-producing countries concerning the effect upon cane sugar if Great Britain enters the Common Market.
§ Mr. George ThomasThe following is the text of the communiqué issued after the meeting
Consultations were held in London from 19th to 22nd June between British Ministers and representatives of Governments whose sugar industries are parties to the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, i.e. Antigua, Australia, Barbados, British Honduras, Fiji, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Mauritius, St. Kitts, Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago, and the East African Common Services Organisation.These discussions related to the special problem that would arise if Britain were to become a member of the European Economic Community, of the exports of sugar from these countries to Britain, under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, which for many years has made a positive contribution to the develop- 54W ment of the economies of the sugar producing countries and has sustained a marked measure of stability in their marketing of sugar.There was a full and confidential exchange of views about the likely effect of British entry into the Community on imports into Britain of sugar from those countries which are parties to the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement and about the means of carrying out the British Government's undertaking to safeguard the essential Commonwealth interests involved.It was agreed that the British Government would remain in close contact with the Governments of the Commonwealth sugar producing countries and that further consultations would be arranged as necessary.