§ Mr. Parryasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list what the cost was to member States of the European Economic Community of the present sugar regime.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe cost to the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund of the sugar regime over the past five years is given below:
351W
million EVA 1976 229 1977 598 1978 878 1979 940 1980 (estimated) 579 Source: European Community Commission
This expenditure is partly offset by levies on sugar producers and by a levy on exports when world prices are above Community prices, as in much of 1980–81. Individual member States' contributions under the own resources system to the cost of individual regimes are not separately identified.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost to the British taxpayer and consumer of the present European Economic Community sugar regime.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe sugar regime is financed from the Community budget. The United Kingdom contributes to that budget as a whole and its contributions to individual commodity regimes are not separately identified. The bulk of United Kingdom consumption is met from United Kingdom and Commonwealth sources and it is not possible to say whether the price paid would have been higher or lower in the absence of a Community regime.