§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent it is the Government's policy to allow the price of sugar to rise so as to reach the Common Market level to assist in Great Britain's entry into the Community; and to what extent the price of granulated sugar to the British consumer compares with that paid by the consumers in each of the stated countries of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. PriorFar from allowing the price of sugar to rise, I have taken special measures to restrict the increase in price, for the remainder of 1972, to less than a third of the increase which would be needed if consumers were called upon to meet the full increases in cost.
The latest available retail prices for sugar are as follows:
Country Date Recorded p per lb.* Belgium February, 1972 7.5 France January, 1972 6.0 Germany January, 1972 6.5 Italy October, 1971 7.5 Netherlands February, 1972 7.5 United Kingdom March, 1972 4.4† * Includes Value Added Tax where applicable †Based on the price of a 2lb. packet.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to what 310W extent on entry into the European Economic Community and after the transition period he estimates the price of canned fruit will rise or fall to the British consumer; and to what extent the import in quantities and price of canned fruit from the Commonwealth countries will be affected.
§ Mr. PriorOn entry into the European Community the import duty on supplies of canned fruits from the EEC will be progressively abolished, whilst supplies from Commonwealth countries will normally become subject to the common external tariff by stages over the period of transition. However, some imports from developing Commonwealth countries will continue to enter duty free, at least until 1975; and the longer-term arrangements under which such countries may export their produce will depend upon the content of the association and trade agreement options open to them under the negotiated Treaty of Accession. In these circumstances it would be completely speculative to attempt to forecast the retail prices or the pattern of trade which will result from these various factors in 1978 after the transitional period.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the European Economic Community Commission is taking Italy to the Community Court for failing to pay Italian farmers the premium for grubbing up fruit trees on a basis of $800 per hectare grubbed up; to what extent Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community British fruit growers will be entitled to a similar award; and whether Great Britain will be treated on a similar basis.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartMy right hon. Friend is aware of this action by the Commission of the European Economic Community. British growers will not be able to participate in the Community's grubbing scheme, as the closing date for applications was 1st March, 1971.