§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the average difference in annual cost between the cost of African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar imported by the United Kingdom and the cost of such supplies over the period 1977 to 1979 and what is the corresponding figure for the last three years before the United Kingdom joined the EEC.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe table below shows the amount by which the world price for raw sugar was above or below (a) the Community's guaranteed price for 457W raw sugar in 1977, 1978 and 1979 and (b) the negotiated prices for 1970, 1971 and 1972 under the Commonwealth sugar agreement.
(£/tonne) 1977 -£44.98 1978 -£75.16 1979 -£83.18 1970 -£3.50 1971 +£2.72 1972 +£22.99 Notes
(1) Guaranteed prices are set annually by the Community on a July/June basis and have been converted into sterling at the representative rate in force on 1 July of the year in question. They relate to cif Europe in bulk.
(2) The CSA negotiated price relates to the fixed basic price for all territories, fob in bulk.
(3) The world prices are based on the London Daily Price for raw sugar cif United Kingdom in bulk for 1977 to 1979 and adjusted to fob in bulk for 1970 to 1972.