3.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that as sugar consumption is static and sugar beet yields are rising, whether he will provide that under Commonwealth Sugar Agreements a higher percentage of home-produced sugar shall be used.
The first triennial review of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement takes place next autumn. My hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate the outcome.
Does my right hon. Friend disagree that in the circumstances in which it is the policy of this Government, as it was of the previous Government, to increase the percentage of food which we grow for ourselves, sugar should not be excluded from this process?
I note what my hon. Friend says. I do not want to be drawn into what may happen in the future at this stage.