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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the Jamaican Government on the security implications for Jamaica of a sudden reduction in the price paid by the European Union for sugar from African, Caribbean and Pacific producers. [203562] Mr. Rammell: In recognition of the impact that reform of the-EU sugar regime will have on African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar producers, the European Commission has undertaken to initiate dialogue with the affected ACP countries, including Jamaica, on the basis of an action plan. This will be used to define appropriate accompanying measures. These are to include financial assistance and help with diversification where restructuring and improvements in competitiveness in the sugar sector are not sustainable. . The UK and Jamaica have discussed the impact of EU sugar reform on Jamaica, including the security implications, at a high level. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Gareth Thomas) and I have visited Jamaica in the past two months and discussed sugar reform. In addition, two Jamaican Ministers and the chair of Jamaica's Sugar Industries Board raised concerns about the implications of EU sugar reform during discussions at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development in November 2004.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

203562; 428 c1067W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Prices Security Sugar Jamaica ACP countries Common sugar regime

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk