HC Deb 24 November 1987 vol 123 c143W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to cut back the level of EEC sugar beet production; and if he will report on moves to negotiate a new international sugar agreement.

Mr. Donald Thompson

We have consistently supported a policy of price restraint for sugar with full producer financial responsibility for the costs of surplus disposal. The United Nations sugar conference in September 1987 negotiated a new administrative international sugar agreement, one of the objectives of which is to provide a framework for the possible future negotiation of an agreement with economic provisions. The Community has also recently tabled proposals in the GATT Uruguay round for urgent measures to improve the world sugar market.