§ Mr. Squireasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to rescind the recent European Economic Community decision to discriminate in favour of sugar beet producers to the detriment of the African, Caribbean and Pacific cane sugar producing countries.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThere has been no decision by the Community to discriminate against ACP cane producing countries. They have been offered the same increase in their minimum guaranteed price as have Community producers of equivalent products, and no abatement is being made to their price to correspond with the 2 per cent. levy which is being applied to all Community production which qualifies for price support.
§ Mr. Parrisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, during discussions with other Agriculture Ministers in Brussels, he will ensure that the question of sugar exports from developing countries is discussed particularly with reference to access for Zimbabwean sugar on similar terms to that enjoyed by existing AC'P suppliers.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithDiscussions have recently taken place in the Council on ACP sugar, in the context of price guarantees for 1981–82. For Zimbabwe, agreement has already been reached on arrangements for access of Zimbabwean sugar to the Community. From 1 July 1982, Zimbabwe will be able to sell to the Community 25,000 tonnes of sugar annually on the same price conditions as other ACP suppliers.