HC Deb 20 April 1982 vol 22 cc66-7W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each of the past five years what proportion of the total sugar allotted to each country under the Lomé agreement was taken by the United Kingdom.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The United Kingdom imported the following percentages of the quantities of sugar permanently allocated to certain ACP countries, overseas countries and territories and India in each of the last five years:

used. However, the figures given on 1 April and on 5 April were intended to indicate the order of magnitude of the costs of a deficiency payments system with prices set halfway between existing producer prices and world prices, as the hon. Member for Renfrew, West (Mr. Buchan) appears to be suggesting. The calculations were based on present levels of agricultural production multiplied by half the estimated difference between existing United Kingdom prices and world prices. For some commodities world prices are difficult to establish and, while various assumptions could be used, all would yield figures of the order given.