HC Deb 16 February 1983 vol 37 cc145-6W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much sugar was produced in the European Community under each quota heading; and how much was exported to third countries in each of past three years.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The available information for the last three crop years is as follows. Figures are in thousands of tonnes, white sugar equivalent.

1. Production*
1979–80 1980–81 1981–82
'A' quota sugar 8,927 8,959 9,385
'B' quota sugar 1,792 2,112 2,125
'C' sugar:
a. not carried forward 1,446 1,191 2,518
b. carried forward to following year† 124 991
TOTAL 12,289 12,262 15,019

2. Exports
1979–80 1980–81 1981–82
'A' and 'B' quota sugar 2,321 3,254
'C' sugar≑ 1,446 1,191 2,518
Notes:
* Figures include production of cane sugar in the Overseas Departments of France. Production in Greece is included for 1980–81 and 1981–82.
† 'C' sugar carried forward counts against the 'A' quota of the enterprise concerned in the following year. Figures shown for production are actual production in the crop year in question, and exclude amounts carried forward from the previous year.
‡ Figures for 1981–82 are not yet available.
≑ Figures shown are for 'C' sugar not carried forward. Community regulations require such sugar to be exported to third countries, without export refunds or levies, by 1 January following the crop year in. which it was produced.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if, in the current European Community price negotiations for agriculture, he will make it his policy to seek to achieve a price settlement for sugar which will reduce the total area under sugar beet in the European Community.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Yes. The Commission has justified its price proposal by the need to reduce sugar beet area. I have supported its argument and pressed for a still more restrictive price policy that it has proposed.

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