§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT, from figures available to him from international sources, table showing, in sterling, the average retail price per pound of sugar in each of the countries of the European Economic Community, and the United Kingdom price.
§ Mr. HoyPrecise comparison of retail prices between countries are not possible. The following prices, though not allowing for differences in quality, etc., do however give some indication of relative price levels.
Retail Price per lb. of sugar, June 1968 s. d. United Kingdom 8½ Belgium 1 5 France 1 1 Federal Republic of Germany 1 2 Italy 1 5 Netherlands 1 3
§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to what extent the current negotiations on the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement are affected by the British application to join the European Economic Community; and what estimate he has made of the effect of the success of the application on United Kingdom retail prices and the sugar-producing countries of the Commonwealth.
§ Mr. HoyThe application to join the European Economic Community is a factor which naturally has to be taken into account in all our external economic policies. The effect of entry on the retail price of sugar and on the sugar-producing countries of the Commonwealth would depend on the arrangements for sugar in an enlarged Community.