§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the prescriptive resolution under the British wool marketing scheme, particularly relating to foreign merchants buying British wool; what measures his Department intends to implement to halt the alleged disadvantage that British merchants are suffering compared to their foreign counterparts; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Hector MonroMy right hon. Friend has received representations from a number of hon. Members and from one company of wool merchants about the British Wool Marketing Board's prescriptive resolution of 1981 which exempts producers from the statutory monopoly if they are selling their wool direct for export to an overseas buyer. Although this means that an overseas buyer can, unlike a United Kingdom merchant, buy wool direct from a producer, I do not believe that in practice this damages the interests of United Kingdom merchants.
883WRetention of the board's statutory monopoly provides all producers with an outlet for their wool, including those in the more remote areas. It has the full support of the National Farmers Union of Scotland and the Confederation of British Wool Textiles.