asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will list all forms of subsidy, assistance or other financial support available to the beet sugar industry and not available to cane sugar refineries.
[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1987]: Refiners of ACP cane sugar do not receive storage refunds, but similarly they do not pay storage levies. ACP cane sugar refined in the Community is not eligible for sale into intervention. The main difference however between the two sectors is that the beet processing margin is calculated on a more satisfactory basis than the cane refining margin. In this respect I secured an undertaking from the European Commission at the Agriculture Council on 24/25 March 1986 to review the cane refining margin and report back to the Council. I expect the Commission to make its report in the near future.