§ 22. Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received on compensation for vulnerable groups affected by the Everything But Arms proposals; and if she will make a statement on the proposals. [143217]
§ Clare ShortSince October 2000, I have received letters from the Mauritian Minister for Agriculture, Food Technology and Natural Resources and the Fijian Minister for Foreign Affairs, External Trade and Sugar. The Jamaican Trade Minister and High Commissioner met with officials from my Department in November to discuss these issues. We have made clear to all these middle income, sugar producing countries that the Least Developed Countries do not have the capacity to expand sugar productions rapidly and that generous support is available from the EU to assist these countries to adjust to the phasing out of preferences to which they are already committed.