§ Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the likely shortfall of sugar during 1975.
§ Mr. BuchanI do not anticipate any shortage of sugar during 1975.
This years' beet crop is at present estimated to yield between 790,000 and 835,000 tons of sugar, which is roughly 30 per cent. of our estimated requirements for the year beginning 1st October 1974. Much the greater part of our imports in this period can be expected to come, as in the the past, from Commonwealth countries, but the precise quantities will not be known until the detailed arrangements applicable to these imports after 31st December have been negotiated 318W between the countries concerned and the EEC. It should be possible to meet any additional requirements by importing from the rest of the Community, which has already taken steps to enable its exports drastically to be reduced, or, if need be, from the world market.