§ Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes have been made in the profit margin allowed to sugar refiners in the trading agreements recently made with our trading partners.
§ Mr. GodberThere are no agreements determining sugar refiners' profit margins as such. The margins available to cover the whole operation of processing sugar beet into white sugar and raw sugar into white sugar have, since 1st February, been determined by the prices fixed for the United Kingdom under Article 51(3) and Protocol 17 of the Treaty of Accession to the European Communities. So far as the period up to 30th June is concerned, there has been no substantial change in the beet processing margin. The margin for the refining of raw sugar, however, has been reduced and, as I informed the House in a statement on 28th March, I am taking action to rectify the situation as it affects port refiners in the United Kingdom.