§ 49. Captain Stricklandasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Gloucestershire Agriculture Committee is stocking and selling fencing wire; and whether it is part of the Government's policy to encourage trade through such organisations to the detriment of traders dealing in these articles.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture (Mr. Tom Williams)Earlier this year the Gloucestershire War Agricultural Executive Committee purchased a stock of barbed wire and some of this wire has been sold to farmers. The question of the disposal of the balance of the stock is under consideration. The Committee's purchases will in future be limited to their own reqiurements. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.