Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of potential changes in trading opportunities for British beet sugar after the UK leaves the EU.
I would refer the honourable member to the Department’s recent submission to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s inquiry into trade in sugar once the UK has left the EU.
British sugar beet producers are among the most competitive in the world and already compete effectively at world prices.
The Government also recognises the importance of the sugar cane refining industry in providing competition in the UK market and the importance of sugar cane production for some developing countries, especially those within the Commonwealth.
Once we leave the EU, the UK Government will be free to decide its own trade policies.