§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from sugar beet farmers about the price of the crop in 2001–02; and what action she has taken as a result. [33933]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 6 February 2002]: The basic price for sugar beet is determined by the relevant Common Agricultural Policy regime. This has kept EU white sugar prices at roughly double world levels for many years. Although the United Kingdom pressed for price reductions in last year's negotiations on renewal of the regime, the levels set by the Agriculture Council in Regulation 1260/01 for the period to 2006 remain broadly unchanged from the previous regime.
Sugar beet farmers have made no specific representations about price for 2001–02, though they have expressed concern about the sterling/euro exchange rate and about certain difficulties in the harvesting and processing of this year's crop.