VISCOUNT ELIBANKasked whether His Majesty's Government are aware that large quantities of wool are lying in brokers' warehouses in Edinburgh and Glasgow which is not permitted to be sold in spite of the fact that the farmers owning it are badly in need of funds for breaking up additional lands for agricultural purposes under war requirements and, further, that this wool is badly required by textile manufacturers in the south of Scotland who use it for their export trade, and whether His Majesty's Government will take steps to have this wool released for sale and consumption as soon as possible?
§ Lord TEMPLEMOREWool lying in these warehouses and owned by farmers was requisitioned by the Government on December 16, and it is being taken over and paid for by the Wool Control as speedily as its appraisement can be effected. Some of the Scottish wool is urgently needed for military purposes but so far as the wool is available for civilian purposes, including the export trade, it will be released to manufacturers under the rationing scheme now in operation in the industry as soon as possible.