§ Mr. Parryasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria were used in arriving at the figure of 1.150 million tonnes quota of sugar beet, in the light of the necessity of providing market space for the pledged import of 1.3 million tonnes of ACP raws and the present home market figure of 2.35 million tonnes.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI am well aware of the need for there to be a balance within the United Kingdom market for sugar between supplies from ACP countries and those from domestic production and the rest of the European Community. I am prepared to envisage, as part of an equitable Community settlement, a reduction in the current United Kingdom beet quota of 1.326 million tonnes to something nearer our current production potential. In 1979–80 the United Kingdom produced 1.154 million tonnes of sugar from beet. This year's figure will be somewhat less. But 1.15 million tonnes broadly represents our present production potential.