HC Deb 17 March 1981 vol 1 cc69-70W
Mr. Freud

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to identify the number of sugar beet factory closures in each European Economic Community country in each of the last three years.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Figures for factory closures are not available, but the net reduction in the total number of beet factories operating in each member state in each of the last three years were:

1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
Belgium 2 0 0
Denmark 0 0 0
France 2 4 1
Federal Republic of Germany 1 1 0
Italy 0 1 1
Netherlands 0 0 0
Republic of Ireland 0 0 0
United Kingdom 0 0 0

Source: European Committee of Sugar Manufacturers