HC Deb 13 February 1975 vol 886 cc175-6W
24. Mr. Michael Morris

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if speciality sugars, brown, icing, cube and crystal, are covered by his statement of 3rd February to the effect that sugar prices will not increase in the future.

Mr. Strang

In so far as these types of sugar are sold by the three main sugar refining companies which are participating in the price equalisation scheme I do not expect them to increase in price as a result of the price we have agreed to pay to Commonwealth suppliers in 1975.

Mr. Blaker

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the price of sugar to manufacturers in other EEC member countries listing each country separately; and what is the current price to manufacturers in this country.

Mr. Bishop

The refiners' current selling prices for bulk sugar including delivery costs, vary between £275 and £281 per long ton. The latest information on prices in other member countries is as follows:

£ per long ton
Belgium 182
Denmark 178
France 167
Germany 205
Ireland 160
Italy 194
Netherlands 186

These prices exclude delivery costs, and relate in each case to home-produced sugar, not imports.

Mr. Blaker

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the levy of £100 a ton on exports containing a certain minimum percentage of sugar provided for under EEC regulations applies to the other member countries of the EEC; and, if so, to which.

Mr. Bishop

The levy on sugar exported in processed products is at a fixed rate of 200 units of account per metric ton of added sugar, for products containing more than 35 per cent. of added sugar. The levy applies in all member States of the EEC.