HC Deb 22 January 1981 vol 997 c221W
31. Mr. Major

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the measures agreed to secure the United Kingdom's sugar supply.

Mr. Peter Walker

United Kingdom sugar supplies are secure. Home production of sugar from beet and imports of raw cane sugar under the sugar protocol of the Lomé Convention each meet nearly half our needs. The small balance is imported from other European Community countries. In addition, the Community has a minimum stock scheme under which beet sugar producers and cane sugar refiners hold 8 per cent. of their annual production in reserve.