§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will oppose any attempt by the EEC to amend quotas which will reduce the amount of sugar being produced in the United Kingdom.
682Wduction less exports plus imports, by the amount of the non-preferred levy.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe figures requested are as follows:
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe United Kingdom is one of the most cost-efficient producers of sugar in the EEC. I cannot accept any formula for quota cuts which treats the United Kingdom unfairly.
§ Mr. Heddleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the proposal recently put forward by the EEC Commission on sugar quotas for 1980 to 1985; and whether he proposes to introduce any measures to protect the interests of farmers who are heavily reliant upon sugar beet production.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithWe support the broad objective of the Commission to cut the Community total of maximum sugar quotas by about 1.2 million tonnes. We cannot, however, accept the proposed redistribution of quotas which would unfairly penalise the United Kingdom and which, if implemented, would seriously damage our beet sugar industry. We shall continue to seek arrangements which adequately protect the interests of United Kingdom producers.