§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when sugar storage levy and regulations became applicable to African, Caribbean and Pacific cane sugar; at what cost and to whom; and if he will correct or add to his statement on this topic in the Standing Committee proceedings on the relevant EEC sugar regulations.
§ Mr. BishopThe Community's storage levy-refund scheme for sugar does not apply to ACP cane sugar. No cost arising from the scheme therefore falls upon producers or refiners of ACP sugar. The Council of Ministers is, however, considering the possible extension of the storage levy-refund scheme to ACP sugar 53W in future years. The Standing Committee debate on 17th December 1975 concerned the separate question of the maintenance of a 10 per cent. minimum sugar stock by Community manufacturers.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning imports of low-cost white refined sugar; and by what means such sugar is being distributed in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BishopUnited Kingdom refiners have drawn my Department's attention to the availability of imported white sugar at competitive prices on our market. I understand that this sugar is being sold through normal trade channels.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tonnages of ACP raw sugar supplies are refined in United Kingdom beet sugar refineries.
§ Mr. BishopNo ACP raw sugar is refined in United Kingdom beet sugar refineries.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the ACP quota for the sugar year 1975–76 for Fiji; what deliveries have been received or are expected for that year; what is the reason for any shortfall; and what conditions attach to future fulfilment of any deficit.
§ Mr. BishopThe agreed quantity for Fiji in the sugar protocol to the Lomé Convention is 163,600 tonnes white value. This will apply to the sugar year July 1975 to June 1976. Fiji's crop last year fell short of expectations; as a result, Fiji is likely to deliver about 138,000 tonnes of that agreed quantity during the 1975–76 sugar year. The conditions to be attached to making up any deficit will be determined in accordance with the provisions of the protocol.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the prices and qualities fixed for raw sugar from each Lorne ACP State for supplies of raw sugar in the sugar year 1975–76; and if he will also give those for each of the French Départments Outre Mer.
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§ Mr. BishopUnder the sugar protocol to the Lomé Convention and related agreements, the guaranteed price for raw sugar for the 1975–76 marketing year (July-June) is 25.53 ua per 100 kgs. cif. However, in practice, the average price actually paid has been considerably higher than this because of the supplement paid by the United Kingdom on sugar shipped in 1975. The agreed quantities of sugar for delivery during 1975–76 are as follows, in tonnes white value:
Barbados 49,300 Fiji 163,600 Guyana 157,700 Jamaica 118,300 Kenya 5,000 Madagascar 10,000 Malawi 20,000 Mauritius 487,200 People's Republic of the Congo 10,000 Swaziland 116,400 Tanzania 10,000 Trinidad and Tobago. 69,000 Uganda 5,000 Belize 39,400 St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla 14,800 Surinam 4,000 India 25,000 The basic quota fixed in EEC sugar regulations for production in three French overseas departments is 466,000 tonnes white value. The intervention price for their raw sugar fob is 26.12 per 100 kgs.