§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present average price of sugar on the retail market; whether he will obtain from the European Economic Community or other international sources the equivalent price in France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Italy; and to what extent Great Britain's entry into the Six under the present arrangements will increase or reduce the retail price of sugar to Great Britain.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe average retail price of sugar in Great Britain is 9d. per lb. The equivalent price in France is 1s. 1d., in Belgium 1s. 5d., in the Netherlands 1s. 2d., and in Italy 1s. 6d. Entry into the Community under present arrangements would probably lead to some increase in the retail price of sugar in Great Britain over a period but the extent of the increase would, of course, depend, among other factors, on the level of prices in the Community at the end of the transitional period.