HC Deb 21 January 1982 vol 16 cc158-9W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what proportion of the time since the United Kingdom entered the European Economic Community the world price of sugar has been above that of the European Economic Community on the most logical comparable basis; and what has been the relationship between the average European Economic Community price and the world market price throughout the period.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

During the eight marketing years from 1973–74 to 1980–81 the average world market price for the year has been higher than that of the European Economic Community in three years. Comparative figures are as follows

Year EEC Support Price*UA/100 kg Average World Price † UA/100 kg
1973–74 23.57 34.29
1974–75 25.22 66.60
1975–76 30.45 29.47
1976–77 33.14 19.85
1977–78 34.60 13.55
1978–79 35.47 12.78
ECU/100 kg ECU/100 kg
1979–80 43.27 32.32
1980–81 46.16 53.58
Average over eight years (in UAs) 32.05 30.95

Notes:

*The European Community support price is the intervention price for white sugar for surplus areas plus, where applicable, the storage levy.

† Average of the spot prices on the Paris sugar market for white sugar fob European ports.

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