Major Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the consternation caused to Scottish farmers by the fixing of the latest prices for black-face and Cheviot wool; and whether he will make representations to the Wool Control Board on the subject with a view to the fixing of a price more proportionate to the cost of production?
§ Mr. E. BrownRepresentations about the levels of black-face and Cheviot wool prices have reached me from several sources. In the very full discussions which I had with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Minister of Supply on the question of prices for the 1940 wool clip, farmers' costs were kept very closely in mind with the result that the Government felt bound to introduce a substantial element of subsidy in the prices as finally announced. In the circumstances an approach to the Wool Controller on the lines suggested would hardly be appropriate.