§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect upon livestock feeding stuff costs of the proposed new EU sugar regime. [137591]
§ Ms QuinAs they stand, the current proposals for reform of the EU sugar regime will not have a significant effect on livestock feeding stuff costs.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK sugar beet industry of European Commission proposals for the new sugar regime; and if he will make a statement; [138906]
(2) what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK sugar beet industry of the European Commission proposals for (a) Everything But Arms initiative and (b) the sugar regime to be introduced on 1 July 2001; and if he will make a statement. [138908]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 17 November 2000]: The proposals for reform of the EU regime, which would come into effect on 1 July 2001, will impact on the UK sugar beet industry by permanently reducing the UK quota, by removing the aid for storing sugar and the levy on industry which finances it, by removing the requirement to keep minimum stocks, and by requiring the Government to adopt measures to promote environmentally friendly fanning.
The proposal for duty free access for goods from Least Developed Countries (the Everything but Arms initiative) could lead to significant imports of sugar from these 398W countries once the EU tariff has been significantly reduced. This could precipitate further quota cuts or the opening of intervention, which could affect all member states including the UK.
The Government are concerned that the Commission's proposals on reform do not take account of the impact which the LDC access proposal might have on the sugar regime. We are pressing for the implications to be fully considered before a decision is taken on reform.