CARIBBEAN BANANA GROWERS

Early day motion 115, tabled 30 November 1999 by Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 110 members.

That this House recognises the crucial importance of the banana industry to small Caribbean states; is alarmed that the European Commission's current proposals for the new banana regime, in response to the recent WTO ruling, pose a serious threat to the livelihoods of Caribbean banana growers and the economies of these states; urges the EU to meet its commitment to the Caribbean banana growers, under the Lome Convention, to provide assured and duty-free access to the EU market; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to ensure that effective measures are adopted to secure this.

Signatures by party: Labour 54, Liberal Democrat 25, Conservative 23, Labour/Co-operative 4, UUP 2, Plaid Cymru 1, Unknown 1.