Sugar (Hansard, 6 February 1980)

§ Sir Bernard Braine
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how United Kingdom yields of beet sugar per hectare for the last 10 years compare with those in the EEC countries both on average and for variability.

§ Sir William Clark
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how United Kingdom yields of beet sugar per hectare for the last 10 years compare with those in the EEC countries both on average and for variability.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The information is as follows:
1969–70—1978ߝ;79
Production of best sugar per hectare—tonnes white sugar equivaent—
much quota B and quota C sugar has been grown in the United Kingdom since entry to the EEC; and how this compares with production in other EEC countries over the same period.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The table below shows the quantities of B quota and so-called C quota sugar—sugar produced outside maximum quotas—produced in each member State since 1973:
255W

'000 tonnes white sugar equivalent

Year (July/June) United Kingdom Denmark Germany France Ireland Italy Netherlands Belgium/Luxembourg

1973–74:

B quota … … … … — 48 448 958 26 — 82 82

C quota … … … … 63 — 59 325 — — 133 86

1974–75:

B quota … … … … — 92 446 757 — — 165 7

C quota … … … … — — — 17 — — 1 1

1975–76:

B quota … … … … — 61 332 442 5 105 151 —

C quota … … … … — — 8 89 — — — —

1976–77:

B quota … … … … — 55 479 197 — 341 134 15

C quota … … … … — — 46 55 — 36 46 —

1977–78:

B quota … … … … — 115 677 857 — 61 104 48

C quota … … … … — 78 163 529 — — 38 —

1978–79:

B quota … … … … — 79 540 693 6 255 191 150

C quota … … … … — — 233 540 — 38 71 —

1979–80: (provisional)

B quota … … … … 60 90 542 696 — 268 175 37

C quota … … … … — 14 291 754 — 113 — 198

Source:

EEC Commission.

256W 257W

§ Sir Bernard Braine
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the yearly tonnage of United Kingdom sugar supplies provided by United Kingdom beet sugar, sugar from United Kingdom refineries and European Economic Community white sugar, since the coming into force of the present European Economic Community sugar regulations.

'000 tonnes white sugars

Year (July/June) Sugar from United Kingdom beet Sugar from refineries in United Kingdom White sugar imported from EEC

1975–76 … … … … 641 1,637 271

1976–77 … … … … 643^* 1,354 224

1977–78 … … … … 857^* 1,460 255

1978–79 … … … … 954^* 1,301 139

^* Excludes raw sugar subsequently refined in a cane refinery.

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in the light of the opposition of the Government of the EEC proposals for a reduced EEC sugar quota, Whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to join the International sugar Agreement.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The Government are pressing for Community accession to the International Sugar Agreement on suitable terms and has supported the Commission's proposed cut in total EEC production quotas, which should facilitate accession.

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the quantity and value of the surplus production of beet sugar throughout the EEC during 1979.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
Total Community production and consumption of sugar in the 1979–80 marketing year are expected to be about 12.2 million tonnes and 9.5 million tonnes respectively. An estimate of the value of the surplus would have to take into account the 1.3 million tonnes of imports from the ACP countries, the level of unsubsidised exports of C quota sugar and the contributions from the production levy on B quota sugar together with the level of world prices throughout the period. No reliable estimate of value is available.

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount of the financial subsidy paid by the EEC to sugar beet growers throughout the Community during 1979.
258W

Sir William Clark asked
the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the yearly tonnage of United Kingdom sugar supplies provided by United Kingdom beet sugar, sugar from United Kingdom refineries and EEC white sugar, since the coming into force of the present EEC sugar regulations.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The information requested is as follows:—

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The EEC does not pay a subsidy directly to sugar beet growers. It does, however, set a minimum beet price which the sugar manufacturers must pay to the beet producers from whom they have accepted contracts. For the 1979–80 marketing year the United Kingdom minimum price for beet produced within the basic quota is 33.40 ECU/tonne—£20.66/tonne at the current representative rate of exchange.

'000 tonnes white sugar equivalent
Year (July/June)	United Kingdom	Denmark	Germany	France	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Belgium/Luxembourg
1973–74:
B quota	…	…	…	…	—	48	448	958	26	—	82	82
C quota	…	…	…	…	63	—	59	325	—	—	133	86
1974–75:
B quota	…	…	…	…	—	92	446	757	—	—	165	7
C quota	…	…	…	…	—	—	—	17	—	—	1	1
1975–76:
B quota	…	…	…	…	—	61	332	442	5	105	151	—
C quota	…	…	…	…	—	—	8	89	—	—	—	—
1976–77:
B quota	…	…	…	…	—	55	479	197	—	341	134	15
C quota	…	…	…	…	—	—	46	55	—	36	46	—
1977–78:
B quota	…	…	…	…	—	115	677	857	—	61	104	48
C quota	…	…	…	…	—	78	163	529	—	—	38	—
1978–79:
B quota	…	…	…	…	—	79	540	693	6	255	191	150
C quota	…	…	…	…	—	—	233	540	—	38	71	—
1979–80: (provisional)
B quota	…	…	…	…	60	90	542	696	—	268	175	37
C quota	…	…	…	…	—	14	291	754	—	113	—	198
Source:
EEC Commission.

'000 tonnes white sugars
Year (July/June)	Sugar from United Kingdom beet	Sugar from refineries in United Kingdom	White sugar imported from EEC
1975–76	…	…	…	…	641	1,637	271
1976–77	…	…	…	…	643^*	1,354	224
1977–78	…	…	…	…	857^*	1,460	255
1978–79	…	…	…	…	954^*	1,301	139
^* Excludes raw sugar subsequently refined in a cane refinery.