Sugar Beet

HC Deb 04 February 1981 vol 998 cc120-1W

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the production of sugar beet within the European Economic Community in each of the past five years; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on future production levels of sugar beet.

Mr. Peter Walker

The following are the levels of total European Community beet sugar production for the past five years. Production within quotas is given in brackets.

Year	Tonnes
1975–76	9,374,657	(9,277,332)
1976–77	9,623,994	(9,744,238)
1977–78	11,208,335	(10,414,910)
1978–79	11,532,568	(10,542,292)
1979–80	11,918,000	(10,931,000)

Source: European Community Commission.

Since Community production is in excess of its needs, the Government believe that total production quotas should be cut, and have made it clear that the United Kingdom would be prepared to bear its fair share of any such cut.