HC Deb 06 July 1950 vol 477 cc636-7
58. Mr. Fort

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider increasing the price now being paid to farmers for Swaledale wool in view of the price it now fetches on the Bradford market.

Mr. T. Williams

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) on 15th June, in which I explained the principles on which the prices for the various types of wool for the 1950 clip have been fixed.

Mr. Fort

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the margin between what is being paid to the raisers of Swaledale wool and the price which is being fetched at Bradford is excessive by any standards of profit making, and that the raisers are entitled to a larger share of that margin?

Mr. Williams

All that I can tell the hon. Member is that the estimated increased price of the cost of production was allowed for in the 1950 price review, and that Swaledale wool has been brought more nearly into its true position in relation to the other types.

Mr. Vane

Could the right hon. Gentleman say how the increased cost of production could have been taken into account in the price of this wool, seeing that what the grower gets has gone down?

Mr. Williams

No wool producer has given any information that the cost of production has gone down.

Major Sir Thomas Dugdale

Has not the price of wool fallen since last year?

Mr. Williams

That may be so, but I understand that the price of Swaledale wool in relation to the price of other types of wool has been varied in accordance with the known market value of the type.