Sugar (Hansard, 28 March 1983)

§ Mr. Deakins
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total amount of refined sugar imported into the United Kingdom for each year from 1979 to 1982; and what amounts have been imported from each European Community country.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The following is the information requested.

United Kingdom imports of refined sugar 1979–1982

(thousand tonnes)

1979 1980 1981 1982

Total imports 230 189 149 176

Imports from European Community of which: 170 158 144 173

France 11 26 4 17

Belgium-Luxembourg 1 ^* 1 1

Netherlands 45 21 27 36

West Germany 1 1 4 2

Italy ^* — ^* —

Irish Republic 40 29 33 47

Denmark 71 82 77 71

Greece — — — —

^* Less than 500 tonnes.

Source: UK Trade Statistics.

§ Mr. Deakins
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how yields from sugar beet have increased in the past decade; and to what extent such increases have contributed to rising sugar production in the European Community.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
The planted area and yield of sugar per hectare in the Community are set out as follows.
82W

Area planted to sugar beet (thousand hectares) Yield (tonnes of white sugar per hectare)

1973–74 1,574 5.81

1974–75 1,572 5.21

1975–76 1,843 5.05

1976–77 1,869 5.15

1977–78 1,760 6.35

1978–79 1,750 6.50

1979–80 1,756 6.79

1980–81 1,777 6.63

1981–82 †1,984 †7.25

‡2,026 ‡7.26

1982–83^* †1,800 †7.39

‡1,840 ‡7.39

^* Provisional.

† Community of nine Member States.

‡ Community of ten Member States (including Greece which acceded in 1981.

The 1983–84 sugar beet area in the Community of ten is tentatively forecast at 1,720 thousand hectares.

§ Mr. Deakins
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the trend in the United Kingdom sugar consumption in recent years.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
Total per capita consumption of sugar in the United Kingdom fell from a post-war peak of 52 kg (per year) in 1958 to 40 kg (per year) in 1980, since when there appears to have been litle significant change. These figures include the sugar content of all home-produced and imported manufactured foods for consumption in the United Kingdom and sugar used in beer and wine making.

§ Mr. Deakins
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that there is sufficient refining capacity for cane sugar in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
Yes.

United Kingdom imports of refined sugar 1979–1982
(thousand tonnes)
	1979	1980	1981	1982
Total imports	230	189	149	176
Imports from European Community of which:	170	158	144	173
France	11	26	4	17
Belgium-Luxembourg	1	^*	1	1
Netherlands	45	21	27	36
West Germany	1	1	4	2
Italy	^*	—	^*	—
Irish Republic	40	29	33	47
Denmark	71	82	77	71
Greece	—	—	—	—
^* Less than 500 tonnes.

	Area planted to sugar beet (thousand hectares)	Yield (tonnes of white sugar per hectare)
1973–74	1,574	5.81
1974–75	1,572	5.21
1975–76	1,843	5.05
1976–77	1,869	5.15
1977–78	1,760	6.35
1978–79	1,750	6.50
1979–80	1,756	6.79
1980–81	1,777	6.63
1981–82	†1,984	†7.25
	‡2,026	‡7.26
1982–83^*	†1,800	†7.39
	‡1,840	‡7.39
^* Provisional.
† Community of nine Member States.
‡ Community of ten Member States (including Greece which acceded in 1981.