§ Mr. Staintonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the ex-refinery price of sugar beyond the end of 1972.
§ Mr. GodberYes. In view of the need to maintain the utmost restraint in food price increases, I have decided that the special payments to the Sugar Board announced by my predecessor in a Written Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Charles Morrison) on 8th March 1972 should be continued during the month of January 1973. At the time my predecessor made his announcement, it was expected that these payments would enable the Sugar Board normally to keep the ex-refinery price of granulated sugar within a target range of from £82 to £92 per ton. He later concluded that, in the light of movements in the world price, the target range could be lowered to £77 to £87 per ton, and the Board has operated on this basis since 20th July. This lower range will now continue until the end of January 1973. The total amount of the special payment is now expected to be about £29 million on the basis of current world prices, and a further Supplementary Estimate will be sought in due course. In the meantime I shall, as necessary, draw on the Contingencies Fund.