§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what Press statements have been issued from his Department in 1975 concerning his negotiations for future supplies of cane sugar for the United Kingdom; and by what means the progress of his negotiations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries of the EEC has been communicated to the Press.
§ Mr. StrangThe following joint communiqué was issued on 10th January and confirmed by a Press notice issued on 13th January
The talks on future arrangements for the supply of sugar from ACP producing countries continued at Lancaster House today, without 354W agreement being reached on the price to be guaranteed by the British Government for sugar shipped in 1975. At the close of the discussions the ACP countries were asking for this price to be not less than £275 per ton fob (equivalent to about £290 cif). The British Government had indicated that it was prepared to guarantee a price not higher than £250 cif (equivalent to about £235 fob). It was agreed that talks would be resumed in Brussels on 14th January.In accordance with normal practice, wherever possible my right hon. Friend meets journalists informally after the end of any talks or negotiations of interest to the public or news media.