§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the Welsh wool merchants' maximum price for selected Welsh fleeces is 11d. per lb.; that the same wool is released by the Wool Control for resale at 1s. 6½d. per lb.; and, in view of the discontent existing among the hill-farmers, will he take steps to see that the producer gets a fair share of the final price?
§ Mr. BurginThe lower price quoted by the hon. Member appears to refer to wool specified in the Control of Wool (No. 9) Order, 1939, as "Ordinary Welsh," and relates to ungraded farmers' clips of this 167W type. The higher price mentioned is charged for the better portion of the "Ordinary Welsh" wool which may, after selection and grading, be classifiable as "Washed Selected Welsh Fleeces," and it also includes appreciable expenses incurred for grading, carriage, handling, etc. The maximum prices payable for the home-produced wool of the 1939 and earlier clips owned by farmers are set out in the Order mentioned above and cannot be exceeded. Consideration is now about to be given to the prices to be paid for the 1940 clip.