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Sugar

Volume 410: debated on Monday 18 August 2003

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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on the proposed reform of the sugar regime [129636]

Although the European Commission have said that they are considering the future of the EU sugar regime, no specific proposals for reform have so far been tabled.We have, however, received representations from a range of interests within the UK industry including beet growers, beet processors, cane refiners and companies who use sugar in the manufacture of their products, as well as from our traditional overseas cane sugar suppliers and organisations concerned with developing country issues.There appears to be a general consensus that the current sugar regime is unsustainable, although there are differing views on the best way forward. We shall take account of all the views expressed to us as discussions proceed.