Sugar Beet Industry

HC Deb 07 November 2001 vol 374 cc300-1W

John Mann

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support is to be given by her Department to the sugar beet industry over the next five years. [4494]

Mr. Morley

Support for the sugar beet industry is governed by the European Union's common agricultural policy (CAP) regime for sugar. A new regime was agreed at the May Agriculture Council and runs for five years from 1 July 2001. This maintains support prices for sugar and sugar beet at previous levels, but ends support for the storage of sugar. The regime will be subject to review at the beginning of 2003 on the basis of a Commission report and any necessary proposals. The Government's view is that the EU support for sugar needs to be put on a more sustainable basis.