§ Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the effect of removing the wool price guarantee from 1 May 1993 upon(a) Scottish wool production, (b) wool production in the crofting counties and (c) crofter and sheep farmer incomes from wool production.
§ Mr. Hector MonroRemoval of the wool price guarantee should not significantly affect wool production in the crofting counties, nor in Scotland generally, wool being essentially a by-product of the sheepmeat industry.
The effect on the incomes of individual producers will vary but returns from wool account for less than 5 per cent. of total producer returns from sheep.