§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give a guarantee to any former signatories of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, who undertake to supply sugar to the EEC under terms to be shortly negotiated, that the United Kingdom will guarantee such agreements in the even of withdrawal from the EEC.
§ Mr. StrangThe nine Community member States are in the process of negotiating terms for the import of sugar from the developing Commonwealth countries within the framework of a long-term agreement. If the United Kingdom should withdraw from the Community, mutually satisfactory arrangements would needs to be negotiated for the supply of sugar to the United Kingdom by the Commonwealth.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the decision in principle by the EEC to permit continuing imports of cane sugar from Commonwealth countries, he will represent to the Council of Ministers that if final arrangements for the implementation of this principle are not made by the date that shipments must be made to sustain supplies to United Kingdom refineries, his policy will be to open immediate unilateral negotiations with the Commonwealth countries concerned.
§ Mr. StrangAt their meeting this week, Agriculture Ministers of the EEC are to resolve the outstanding questions on imports of raw sugar from the developing Commonwealth countries and former associate States of the EEC. Negotiations with the supplying countries themselves will take place immediately after the Council meeting. We fully expect these negotiations to be concluded in time to maintain shipments to the United Kingdom refineries.