§ Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the results of the discussions to date on a new International Sugar Agreement.
§ Mr. GodberIt had been hoped that the United Nations Sugar Conference, which ended on 13th October, would negotiate a new International Sugar Agreement comparable to the present one, which expires at the end of the year. This proved impossible because the main exporting and importing countries could not agree on price levels and related issues. The text of a purely administrative agreement, with no powers to regulate the international sugar market, was therefore adopted which, if signed by sufficient countries, will enter into force on 1st January.