§ Mr. Jayasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the world price of wheat, maize and barley, respectively, in July 1976; what was the EEC reference price in France; and what were the levies and compensation amounts payable in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BishopWorld prices for wheat, maize or barley vary according to differences in quality, grading and presentation and there is no EEC reference price for these grains.
Subject to these reservations the latest available information is given below. The average unit values of United Kingdom imports of third country grains for June 1976 have been used to illustrate a world price, and the EEC threshold price is given as a substitute for a reference price.
the trends will be for the rest of the decade, bearing in mind to accept EEC policies of greater independence of supplies, to utilise to the full sugar cane refinery capacity in the United Kingdom and to meet long standing commitments to Commonwealth sugar producers.
917W
§ Mr. BishopThe following table shows United Kingdom stocks, production, imports, disposals and exports of sugar for
UNITED KINGDOM SUGAR STATISTICS 1970–75 (thousand long tons white value*) 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 Opening stocks 903 854 949 1,058 859 550 Home production† 838 955 1,017 823 758 656 EEC imports— Raw 23 1 11 53 40 100 Refined 108 42 32 16 321 548 Imports other than EEC 1,833 1,968 1,996 1,867 1,767 1,541 Disposals‡ 2,661 2,634 2,649 2,615 2,897 2,164 Exports 190 237 298 343 298 348 Closing stocks 854 949 1,058 859 550 883 * Conversion rate used 95:100 (home grown); 96:100 (imported raws). † Production from home-grown sugar beet. ‡ Excluding sugar in imported manufactured foods but including sugar used in the manufacture of other foods subsequently exported.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the imports of cane sugar from Commonwealth sugar producers in each year since 1970, and at what price; and whether he is satisfied that commitments undertaken jointly with the EEC
Year Raw sugar Refined sugar long tons tel quel £ long tons £ 1970 … … … … 1,729,287 91,693,149 498 24,039 1971 … … … … 1,877,130 98,734,173 4,881 272,067 1972 … … … … 1,847,017 115,328,500 8,613 740,122 1973 … … … … 1,618,356 112,743,869 312 28,662 1974 … … … … 1,452,114 160,091,348 69 14,371 1975 … … … … 1,229,910 301,329,536 10,814 2,831,912 Most of this cane sugar was imported under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement and, in 1975, under the Lomé Convention and related agreements in the cases of India, St. Kitts and Belize. There were shortfalls totalling 60,390 tons and 332,186 tons respectively against the CSA negotiated price quotas for 1973 and 1974. The Commonwealth sugar producers fully met their quotas under the Lomé Convention and related agreement for the delivery January-June 1975, which was the only complete delivery period in 1975.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, following the undertaking about commodity agreements at UNCTAD IV, what has been the outcome of negotiations on sugar supplies, between sugar producers in the developing countries, including Lomé Convention countries, the United Kingdom, and the EEC; and what are the prospects for a new International Sugar Agreement.
918Weach year since 1970. Future trends in these factors are difficult to forecast accurately.
countries since February 1973 have been met.
§ Mr. BishopThe amounts of cane sugar, raw and refined, imported into the United Kingdom from Commonwealth sugar exporters between 1970 and 1975 are shown in the table below, together with the corresponding values:
§ Mr. BishopFollowing the timetable laid down at UNCTAD IV, the United Kingdom, as part of the EEC, hopes to join in discussions this autumn with the developing country sugar producers and others to examine the prospects for a new international sugar agreement.