HC Deb 26 April 1967 vol 745 cc297-8W
92. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate his Department can provide of the increased price of sugar imports in the event of Great Britain joining the Common Market.

Mr. Peart

I appreciate the hon. Member's concern in this matter, but I am afraid it is not possible to estimate what the average price of our sugar imports would be if we were to join the E.E.C., because of the many imponderable factors involved, including the nature of the arrangements that might be made for sugar in an enlarged Community.

93. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give an estimate of the cost of butter per 100 hundredweight from the Common Market countries in the event of British entry into the European Economic Community, and the comparative cost of butter imported from New Zealand.

Mr. Peart

For 1968–69 the E.E.C. have adopted a support-buying price for butter of 640 shillings per cwt. and a minimum price for imports of 694 shillings. The ex-store price of New Zealand butter recently has been 300 shillings. The price of imports into this country if we were to join the Community would depend on the arrangements agreed for butter in the enlarged Community and on market conditions at the time.