HL Deb 16 March 1989 vol 505 cc450-2WA
Lord Rippon of Hexham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they will respond to the European Commission's proposal that there should be a reduction in institutional prices and margins for sugar under the CAP, bearing in mind the undertaking given that the Community would ensure that prices allow growers, processors and refiners to plan and invest for the long term.

Baroness Trumpington

We acknowledge the case which the Commission have made for reducing sugar prices. However, sugar is a complex part of the CAP, and a price cut would have major implications for the ACP countries and the cane sugar refining margin, as well as for our beet growers and processors. We have made clear in discussions on the Commission's proposals that all those aspects would need to be resolved before any decision to cut the price of sugar were taken.