To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what additional steps her Department proposes to take to support small banana farmers in the Caribbean. [18444]

My Department is concerned about the potential impact on Caribbean banana producers of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling on the European banana regime. We accept that the Community's arrangements will need to be brought into conformity with WTO rules but Caribbean banana producers can be assured that we have their interests high on our agenda and will work with them to help support the necessary adjustments.