§ 17. Mr. Freudasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the expected 1981 yield of home-grown sugar; what is the current acreage of the crop; and if he will make a statement about the future of the sugar beet industry in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI understand that the British Sugar Corporation expects to contract for about 210,000 hectares in 1981. Depending on weather conditions, the yield of sugar should be in line with the maximum quota of 1.15 million tonnes which I have indicated I would accept in 177W the negotiations on a revised Community sugar regime. This quota will give the industry the opportunity to supply about half of the United Kingdom market, most of the remainder being supplied by cane sugar.