Written question asked by Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Bach (Labour) on Thursday, 15 December 2005.

Sugar

Question: What changes, in money and percentage terms, are forecast in farm gate prices for sugar beet in the United Kingdom in each of the next four years following the introduction of the reform to the common market organisation for sugar.

Answer: The reformed EU sugar regime will establish a new minimum beet price applicable from 2009-10 onwards following a transitional period. The 2009-10 price of euro 26.3 per tonne will be 40 per cent. lower than today’s minimum beet price of euro 43.6 per tonne, a reduction of euro 17.3 per tonne. The actual price paid for sugar beet in the reformed regime will be the subject of contractual negotiations between the growers and the beet processors and may well be higher than the legislative minimum.

Secondary information