HC Deb 15 March 1973 vol 852 cc382-3W
33. Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take in order to implement the undertaking given at the Lancaster House Conference that the United Kingdom would seek to ensure continued imports of cane sugar from the Commonwealth after becoming a member of the EEC.

Mr. Godber

We shall implement the Lancaster House declaration by the part we shall play as a member of the Community in the determination of the Community's future sugar policy and the arrangements to be made, in accordance with the Community's undertaking in Protocol 22 of the Treaty of Accession, for the import of sugar into the Community from the Commonwealth countries concerned.

36. Mr. Milne

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement concerning the position at present of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement and its effects on the arrangements for sugar agreed with the European Economic Community.

Mr. Godber

We are fully committed to honouring our obligations under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement until the end of 1974. The arrangements agreed with the Community were taken in the light of the need to ensure that the quantities purchased under the agreement can be refined and marketed in the United Kingdom. I am in touch with the refiners of Commonwealth sugar about the precise effect on their operations of these arrangements.